Using your Admissions Counselor to your Advantage

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a restful and relaxing break from school and if you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you had a great day filled with turkey and mashed potatoes! Tonight I want to talk with you all about how you can use your college admissions counselor to your advantage. They are a wealth of knowledge and can provide a lot of wisdom to you!

First things first, a college admissions counselor is someone who works for a specific university to recruit and encourage students to apply and enroll at their college. They spend a lot of time travelling in the Fall and Spring to attend events across the nation to discuss their university. Once they are back in the office, they spend their time meeting with families, reading applications, and answering their students' questions. It is important to recognize what their job is before you start wondering how they can help you in your college search process.  Here are some of my tips:

1. ASK THEM QUESTIONS!!!  I cannot reiterate this enough, if you have a question about the university, about the application process, or about scholarships, then send them an e-mail, call them, or even text them your question. They want the contact with you and want to help you recognize the greatness that their campus can offer to you.  **When I was applying to colleges, whenever I had a question about the university, I would write it on a sheet of paper and keep that in my college folder. When the admissions counselor called throughout the year, I would have my questions ready for them so that I could get all of the answers I needed!

2. GET CONNECTED!!! Ask yourself who they might be able to connect you with at the university. Admissions professionals usually have some power to get things done and to have their students meet with others, so if there is someone you want to meet or talk to, ask your admissions counselor about it. They can usually connect you with athletics coaches, professors, other administrative offices, and students! If you have a specific question and you aren't satisfied with their vague answer, then see if they can hook you up with another resource!  (Admissions counselors know a little about a lot, so if you genuinely want more information than they are giving you, that is completely acceptable. Be up front though and see who else they can get in contact with for you!)

Use your admissions counselor to set up meetings with
coaches and student athletes.

3. CHECK ON APP. MATERIALS!!! So, it wasn't until I started working in the Admissions Department that I realized that students and families can call the office to see if their materials have been submitted to the university appropriately.  Oftentimes students wonder if their recommenders have completed their evaluations or if their guidance counselor sent in their transcript. Now, you don't have to worry because you can ask your admissions counselor. Now, I wouldn't be calling every two days to see if it has been submitted, but have a frank conversation with your admissions counselor to make sure they have the most up-to-date information, including test scores!

4. BUILD YOUR RESOURCES!!! Once you are enrolled at the institution, keep all of the connections that they have helped you make and reach out to those people. If they are students or other professionals, make sure you keep them in mind when you are back on campus at orientation. They may be able to help you make your college transition even more smoothly. These connections may also help you later on down the road in college. (One of the administrators who did my admissions interview, coincidentally, I ended up working really closely with during my years as an Upperclassman RA and as an Orientation Leader. You never know where those resources will lead you, so definitely keep them in a safe place!)

I hope this has helped you all as you are beginning to contact your admissions counselors more and more. Just remember each university is different, so their connection and resource flow may take a little longer than at another. Stay patient and remember if you have something you really want to know about a university, then pursue it!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Today is one of my most favorite holidays because it is all about giving thanks for the people and things in our lives! So, I am going to share with you all some of the things I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving!

My family!
My mom and dad have provided me undying support these past 23 years of my life and I am beyond thankful for them. They have provided me with so many opportunities and experiences that have lead me so many places. From the car rides to dance class, going to hockey games, our road trips to North Carolina every summer, and our Thanksgiving tradition of putting up our Christmas tree and decorating the house; I couldn't imagine two better people to have shared every moment in my life with. I'm also beyond appreciative for my sister and her husband for their love and support ... especially through these college years!

My boyfriend and his family!
My boyfriend, Tyler is the first person I go to when I have an idea for my blog, for a trip, or for a class. He and his family have been incredibly supportive, especially these last few years of graduate school, of me and my education! Tyler was the first person who I talked to about creating this blog and he has pushed me ever since that conversation while on vacation!

My education!
I have been incredibly blessed to have had my tuition for both of my undergraduate and graduate degrees paid for by the institution I've attended. I have had amazing experiences, made lasting friendships, and have learned so much over these past 5.5 years and I am beyond grateful for it! A college education gives you the opportunity to grow into your own person and become confident in your dreams and goals and I'm so happy to have been able to experience that!

My blog!
A year ago I would have never known that I would be spending my free time preparing blog posts and taking pictures for this blog, but I am so happy and thankful for having this outlet and opportunity to share my advice and experiences with everyone who reads it! I wish that there was a blog like this when I was applying to colleges to help answer my questions, but I am so thankful that I can help any and all students who are pursuing a college education!

My Readers!
Of course, I am undeniably thankful for all of your who take the time to read the blog posts I share and who share the information I provide with their family and friends. I wish you all nothing but the best at the start of the holiday season!I hope you all have had a safe, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving Day surrounded by your family and friends! Take time today to be thankful for everyone in your life and every opportunity you have been afforded thus far. But also, be thankful for the opportunities you have yet to experience and the people you have yet to meet; the future is bright my dear ones! Happy Thanksgiving!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

P.S. To all my international followers, Happy Thankful Thursday! I hope you all just have a magnificent day!!

High Impact College Experiences

Hello all!

Today I wanted to talk to you all about the Conference I attended this past weekend. It was entitled "Student Affairs Matters: High Impact Learning Outside the Traditional Classroom," and it was hosted by Binghamton University. This was the first conference I've ever attended and the presentations and conversations I had were very insightful and I wanted to share those with you here!

Student Affairs is a Calling
So, our Keynote Speaker, Dr. George Kuh, opened his presentation with this thought: People who work in college student affairs do it because they are called to it. It is not a job they seek out from middle school or high school, but it is something that they are called to do in this world. As a future college student or as a parent of a college student, you should be incredibly happy about this. The people that are going to help you succeed in college and who are going to be there through your trials and triumphs are there because they want to be. Student affairs professionals, myself included, are in this position because we want to help students succeed and provide them with the resources they need to graduate from college and safely enjoy their time!

Experiential Learning is Important
"The institution a student attends or the major they study is not nearly as important as the experiential learning experiences they have." -  Dr. George Kuh (If you're interested in College Student Affairs or college in general, definitely look him up!) What is experiential learning? These include internships, service-learning projects, studying abroad, research, and seminars/capstone courses. Without a doubt, when you graduate from college, employers are going to look at your experiences and how they can add to their business. If you leave with just an Accounting or Music degree and no outstanding experiences to support the knowledge you gained in the classroom, it is going to be a tough sell for finding a job. **Because of this, when looking for your undergraduate institution, you will want to find those universities which have experiential learning opportunities that you can take advantage of!

Planning Partnerships
This may be more useful once you are in college or in your Sophomore or Junior years, but if you have a plan or idea for an event, a class, a workshop, or whatever try and find partnerships with the different offices and clubs on campus. Generally speaking, students know what students want, so use that to your advantage. Pitch your idea to administrators and organization officers to see what resources you have to make your plans bigger and better. Also, more partnerships equates a bigger budget for your event, which helps you achieve what you need for your event! This goes this same for high school students! If there is something you want to do or want to see done at your high school, then go to a teacher you trust, plan it out and then you bring it to your administration! Great Ideas + Great Partnerships = Great Projects

All in all, the conference was a great learning experience for me and I hope what I learned can help you with your ideas about college and your concerns! As always, if you have questions, concerns, or something you want covered on the blog, feel free to comment, tweet me, or e-mail me!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Reminding your Recommenders

Hi everyone and Happy Saturday and Happy Thanksgiving Break to all of the college students who have next week off! (Something to look forward to high schoolers!!) Today I thought I'd give you some ideas on how to remind your recommenders to fill out your college evaluations and write your letters. This can be tricky because you don't want your teachers to feel like you're hounding them or that you're not grateful, but at the same time you want to make sure that all of your items are in before the deadline!

Here are some of my tips:

1. If you are bold and feel like it is not an issue, then just remind them like it is no big deal! You can stop in on their lunch hour, at the end of the day, or during a study lab to talk to them about it. Just be honest with them and remind them of the deadline. They may have a plan to complete it soon, but just haven't because they've been so busy.

2. You can "thank them in advance," as a way to remind your teachers to complete their evaluations and letters. Teachers are busy and may have a lot of letters to write, so a soft reminder like this will make them grateful. They honestly may have forgotten or lost track of time, so a "Hi, Mrs. Jones. I just wanted to thank you for writing my letter of recommendation and doing my evaluation, please let me know if you need anything else from me to complete it."

3. If you don't want to confront them face to face, then send them a professional e-mail with a reminder of the deadlines for each college they are evaluating you for. Much like above, reiterate how thankful you are for them writing your evaluations and helping you towards your dream of attending college. You can also say how they have helped you choose the institution or program you are going to pursue and why they are important to your schooling career.

4. If you've reminded your recommenders already and they still haven't completed your evaluation then I would enlist in the help of your guidance counselor to reach out to your teacher and reiterate the importance of their timely completion of the letter of recommendation and evaluation. Your guidance counselor may also be able to contact the Admissions Office of the universities to which you're applying about the delay in the recommendation.

Ultimately, do whatever feels naturally to you and your personality when you are reminding your teachers to complete the evaluations and if you think you need to change your recommenders, then do what is right for you and your college applications. I would definitely talk it over with your parents and your guidance counselor before you ultimately choose to change who your recommenders are.

If you are facing this issue, I hope this post has helped you determine your plan of navigation for reminding your teacher. If you have other questions or concerns along this line, please let me know and I would be happy to do a post about them and give you my recommendations!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Wish I Knew Wednesday

"I wish I had known how many schools to apply to ... I only applied to 4 ... and I was very apprehensive that that was not enough, even though I wasn't interested in others."

Danielle P., 21, Little Falls, New York

I think that this is a very genuine question/concern that a lot of students have who are applying to college. "But for real, how many colleges should I apply to?" Unfortunately, there is no major number or equation that when solved will tell you how many colleges to apply to. You need to have options but at the same time, you need to think about what is right for you! 

First, only apply to those universities that you would be happy attending! If you know in your heart that you would rather enter the work force than attend that college then don't apply there! Don't waste your time and don't waste the university's time. If you would only be happy attending two universities, then only apply to those two, if you'd be happy at eight colleges, then apply to all eight. You have to do what's right for you!

Second, be realistic about your options. It is great to have your sights set on a few schools, but also apply to others if you don't think your chances are high of being accepted. I guess if there were a magic equation it would be, apply to 1 Reach school, 2 Standard schools, and 1 Safety school. While I don't necessarily agree with it, you need to have a realistic conversation with your school counselor and your parents about your opportunities. Don't make the only two colleges you apply to Harvard University and Yale University, but at the same time, don't just apply to community colleges when you really want to go to a four year school! Keep your options and choices in mind and make a plan!

Third, don't listen to your friends about colleges. While their insight/experiences visiting colleges may be helpful, their experiences don't always equate to your needs. If they are applying to ten schools ... good for them or if they are applying to one college ... still good for them. I think I say this all the time, but do what's right for you! Ultimately you have to live with your decisions about college, so plan wisely and apply to the colleges and universities you want! 

Pick your right path!

I only applied to two colleges for my undergraduate degree and I applied to five universities for my graduate degree. For my undergraduate, there were only two schools that I absolutely loved and could completely see myself succeeding there, so I only applied to those two. Also, I did not have the time or the desire to apply to more than those two, so I didn't! In terms of my graduate career, I applied to that many to provide me with options for my future. I was also applying to full-time jobs and graduate assistantship positions, so ultimately I wanted whatever institution I attended to fit my career choice as well. 

At the end of the day, it is not a competition with your peers, it is a competition with yourself to help build your brightest future, so apply to those colleges that fit your needs and your hopes for future successes!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Should I do an Instant Decision Session?

Hi everyone and Happy Sunday! The university where I work and study had our final Fall Open House yesterday, so I apologize for the delay in posting this! Some universities will still have opportunities for you to visit this fall, so be sure to check out those universities if you want to visit before the Holidays start! Today I want to talk to you about the choice of whether or not to take part in an instant decision session at a university that you're interested in.

Instant decision sessions vary by institutions and not all of them offer this opportunity, so it is important to check with your admissions counselor. This event is where you submit your application, test scores, letters of recommendation, and high school transcript to the college before your arrival on campus. Then, while you are out on tour or taking part in the Open House, admissions representatives review your materials and make their decision based on the materials they have on file. So, if your test scores aren't in or your transcripts aren't official, then you won't be able to receive a decision.

Here are some Pros and Cons of doing an Instant Decision Session:

Pros:

- Exactly what it says, INSTANT DECISION, if you really want to know whether you are accepted to a university, then this is the quickest way to know. You don't have to wait the three weeks (if the school has rolling admissions) or the four months (if they have a regular deadline).
- You can start planning a little earlier for your future! If you know whether you are accepted, wait-listed, or denied you can plan to apply to other schools if necessary or you can start gaining experience in the program you are interested in studying.
- If it is your top-choice university and the decision is favorable then you get to find out the fate of your future while at your dream school. That is pretty awesome!

Cons:

- There is a lot of last-minute work that goes into preparing your materials for an Instant Decision Session. You have to follow-up with your guidance department to make sure they sent everything in and that there are no delays. You also have to apply earlier than you may have planned on. It is quite a bit of stress.
- Because the admissions representatives are in a hurry to give everyone their decision, some items may be overlooked (not on purpose). Some test scores may be ignored, even though they are higher than the others, or your History teacher wrote a stronger letter of recommendation than your counselor, but they only had time to look at the one from your counselor.
- You may not get the decision you want during this visit. You could be wait-listed because your test scores aren't high enough, or you could be denied. Personally, if I am going to be denied by an institution, I'd rather it be in the comfort of my home, rather than in a public spot with others around.

There are definitely positives and negatives of choosing to take part in an Instant Decision Day, but it is important to weigh them based on your own needs and your own expectations. Personally, I never took part in an Instant Decision Session and I don't necessarily recommend doing so, just because I am a private person when it comes to school work and achievements like a college acceptance. However, if you and your family believe that an Instant Decision Session would be a positive experience for you, then why not try it out!

I hope today's post helps you consider this one aspect of college admissions and helps you weigh your options in terms of waiting for a decision or receiving it right away! If you've had a positive experience with Instant Decision, I'd love to hear, so feel free to leave it in the comments or contact me through my Contact Page! Have a great week everyone!!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Wish I Knew Wednesday

"I wish I would have gone to state school for undergrad to save up for a really good Master's program. I got a really good undergrad education but it was insanely expensive and I really wish I had put that kind of money into a Master's instead."
Amanda R., 23, Abington, Massachusetts

So this is a tricky one, every student is different, every person's financial aid package is different, and everyone's goals are different. For example, I got a better financial aid package at my private college than I would have gotten at a state university because of my merit scholarship. However, most students would get a better "end number" at a state college because their financial aid would most likely stay the same, while the cost significantly decreases. Nonetheless, each student and each university is different, so it is important to compare the "end cost" of each institution.

One suggestion that this statement brings to mind is that you need to look at the bigger picture of what you want to do in the long run. If you want to become a teacher, doctor, lawyer, psychologist, dietitian, or many other careers, you're going to need a Master's degree or higher (M.D. for doctor and J.D. for lawyer). Because of this, you should plan in terms of finances for the next six to eight years as well. The thing about graduate programs is that they rarely offer scholarship opportunities that cover a great portion of your tuition and fees. Because of that, the primary way of paying for these programs is through federal and private loans. These loans can become a huge ring-up after six straight years of schooling and interest accruing. 

Because of all of these factors, it is necessary to look at the big picture of everything: which university are you going to get the education you want, the extra-curricular opportunities you want, the professional contacts you want, and the finances you want. You should ask yourself if you are decreasing the quality of your experience by attending a "less expensive option." 

Ultimately you need to find the institution that fits all of your short-term and long-term needs!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

P.S. Check us out on Twitter at @Chasing_College and feel free to add comments below with what you'd like to see in the future on the blog!

Monday Motivation!

Hi all! I hope you had an enjoyable and productive weekend ... working on your college and scholarship applications to have them completed and sent out before Thanksgiving Break!

I know for myself, I have lost all ambition for this semester and am struggling to stay motivated and maybe you're feeling the same way! (Grad students have motivation issues too!) I have compiled a little Get Motivated post today to help you focus on this week and get everything completed that you need to!!

SPRING BREAK!!
While Spring Break may be five to six months away, it doesn't hurt to start thinking of ideas and ways to spend your spring break! Here is a list of the 10 Best Cheap Spring Break Destinations. Personally, I am in favor of beach destinations, but you may find a mountain or city adventure is more your family's speed. Use this time now to work hard and save up money for your potential spring break vacation!

Personally, I am a fan of Myrtle Beach ... but then again
so aren't most people from the Northeast after a long Winter!

CELEBRATE VETERAN'S DAY!!
This Wednesday (November 11th) is Veteran's Day here in the USA, when we celebrate and thank the men and women who have fought for our country. So, use their bravery and their love of protecting this land as motivation to help increase your bravery of studying for an exam or working on a project. But first, thank a veteran or a veteran's family member for their sacrifices ... it would mean the world to them! Also, if you attend a Veteran's Day Parade or walk past someone from the American Legion with poppy's, give them a donation, even if it is just a dollar, the American Legion gives so much to veteran's, their families, and to active service-people and their families.

Happy Veteran's Day to my grandfather, Retired MSG Lindsay and my wonderful
grandmother for standing by his side even while they were continents apart!

It's Monday ... that means you are four days away from the weekend. That is four days to get everything accomplished on your to-do list that you can! Use the time you have this week to talk to your teachers and professors, make a new memory with your sibling, and ask for advice from your mom or dad. You can make it through this week and can make it through this semester! Work hard and reap the benefits!!

"The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That's all there ever is."
~ Eckhart Toole

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Should I do an Overnight Visit?

Hi everyone and Happy Friday! I hope you all had a great first week of November and are enjoying your classes. Tonight I want to talk a little bit more about doing an overnight visit at the colleges you are really interested in. Some universities are already offering overnight visits for prospective students, so it is important to consider whether this is a visit that fits your personality and fits your needs.

Typically universities will pair you with a student who is in the academic program that you want to join or with an athlete on the team you are being recruited for. Either way, their goal is to help you connect with this student and get a real look at what your day-to-day life will be like at the college/university. If you are an athletic recruit, you may even practice with the team to get a sense of the team dynamics.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to figure out if an overnight visit is right for you.

Have I applied to this college?

Am I genuinely invested in this college?

Do I need more information to help make my decision?

Is this my first or second choice college?

Does it fit in my schedule?

What more do I need to learn about this college?

Will spending the night help me learn what I need to know?

Ultimately, I think it is up to you whether you want to do an overnight visit. Think about your personality and your needs and then use that to decide if it would be the right type of visit for you. (Don't forget, there are other opportunities to visit the colleges held throughout the year.) A lot of my friends from college did overnight visits during the Spring before they entered college and they said that it really helped them make their decision. You're able to see the college in its natural order, as opposed to seeing it through an admissions lens. For myself though, I had no desire to do an overnight visit, I was more concerned about going into college with an open mind and without this pre-conceived idea of what my college life would be. I did other visits though, such as Accepted Student Day and the Honor Scholar Day in the Spring -- these are geared towards students making their decisions and have some different exercises and information for students and their families.

Either way, whether you are learning towards doing an overnight visit or not, make sure you go in with an open mind. Try and relax and go with the flow. Your overnight host may have everything planned, so just go with the flow and let them show you what life's like at their college. Ultimately, have fun, ask your questions, and learn as much as you can!

enjoy the chase,

skylar 

P.S. If you are interested in doing an overnight visit, make sure you check out the university's website and also talk with your Admissions Counselor to set it up!

Wish I Knew Wednesday

"I wish I had known that college is a lot harder than high school and you're mot the 'big fish in a little pond' anymore ... It takes a lot of dedication and effort to get the top grades in college."
Jessica P., Batavia, New York

While Chasing College is meant to provide you with college inspiration and help, it is also important to be realistic about life in college. 

It is hard work!

I worked incredibly hard in high school and I worked even harder (I didn't know it was possible) when I started college six years ago; and this is true for most college students. It is considered a step above high school for a reason, it requires a new set of skills and a higher level of thinking and reasoning. You have an entirely new world to navigate and only so much time to do so. 

In order to help yourself put in the effort and keep your grades and learning at a high level, it is important to find the resources that you will need to success. 

• The on-campus tutoring center is a great place to start to help pull up your grade if you feel you are struggling in a course. There may be drop-in tutoring hours for your specific subject or you can get a one-on-one tutor. They can help explain concepts you aren't quite getting or help you study before an exam.
  
• The writing center is another place to help improve your college-level writing. Typically they can help you prepare a piece of writing by formulating ideas, helping with grammar issues, and explaining citation methods such as MLA or APA.
  
• The advising and retention office is a great resource if you are struggling to determine what you want to study or if in general you are having difficulty transitioning from high school to college. They can help you determine your options if you get in over your head and need a solution to help finish the semester!
  
• Another great resource is your professor! While this is rather obvious, sometimes students don't ever ask their professor for help in a course. They may have a suggestion about study tips or may allow you to hand in drafts of research papers. They also might refer you to another resource that can greatly help you with the course. Go to your professor during their office hours and have a genuine conversation about the course and how you can improve your grade.
  
• Finally, talk to the students that are in the class with you and see if they are having a difficult time too. Chances are they are not performing well either. You can create study groups and help each other understand the different concepts.  **If this is a course in your major, then making friends with your classmates now will only help solidify those friendships for the next four years!

Jessica P. and I were not only French and Education majors together,
we also studied in Paris together.
We both survived our French major because of each other!

College is difficult, no matter if you were Valedictorian, in the Top 10 or in the Top 50%, whether you go to Harvard, a state school, or a community college, it's going to be hard work. The transition and the change in academic environment can really affect your studies, but be sure to use these resources to help you perform to your highest potential!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Volunteering in College

Happy November everyone!!  I hope you all had a fun and safe Halloweekend with your family and friends. Please note that just because you are in high school or college, that doesn't mean you still can't dress up and have a festive time, so you have 364 days to figure out your costume for next year!

Tonight I want to talk to you all about the act of volunteering in college. It is a very important aspect of most college campuses and is a requirement at some. During my Freshmen year of college, we were required to complete 60 hours of community service. Luckily, they had a Community Service Fair during Orientation to help us find an organization to work with. But, if your university doesn't have a Volunteer Fair, here are some ideas for finding the right organization for you.

On-Campus Clubs - Check out your college's listing of clubs and organizations, some of them offer some great community service opportunities. A lot of universities have a chapter of Circle K, which is a service organization affiliated with the Kiwanis Club. They offer so many different opportunities to volunteer in the community and with other on-campus organizations. Also, check out the Relay for Life Club on campus, the Key Club, or the Lion's Club to find even more chances to volunteer. These organizations also allow for potential leadership positions in your university's chapter and the national chapter!

Event Volunteers - No matter the size of the campus you attend, there will be events happening that you can help with. These can range from conferences and Welcome Weekend to concerts and sporting events. Whatever your niche may be, find an event that fits your interest and that you will enjoy doing. During my undergrad, I helped with our Reunion Weekend during the summer and I also was a Big Events Volunteer for on-campus concerts. Both had their own perks and I enjoyed them while still being able to boost my resume and gain more experience!

Local Schools - If you are an Education major, this is a GREAT chance to gain experience, really boost your resume, and help out other teachers. Once you have all of your clearances completed and your fingerprinting done, you can tutor within a school district. I know that elementary teachers especially are always looking for an extra hand in the classroom and if this is your area of interest, then definitely pursue it. Also, if you have already completed Freshmen field work or a student teaching experience, use your rapport with those students to continue volunteering with that teacher.

Churches and Youth Groups - Whether you consider yourself Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist ... whichever divine figure you believe in, you can always volunteer at a local place of worship. You can end up working in the soup kitchen, the food pantry, youth group, or teaching Sunday School. No matter what it is, the church members will be grateful that you are volunteering your time and helping them. (They can also become a great support system to you throughout your four years in college.)

Social Organizations - There are also community service experiences available to you in your college town or in a neighboring city. If you are a political or social rights activist, this would be a great route to get out in the college's community and gain connections. These organizations could be Planned Parenthood, Rape Crisis, the Republican Council, or a special interest group in the area. If you can relate these organizations to a career or an area that you would be interested in learning more about, then try out volunteering to get a better idea of the environment.

These suggestions can help you give back to your college campus and your college's community, while still gaining more experience and helping you grow your career. The good thing about volunteering is that if you don't particularly like the experience after trying it, once the commitment is finished, you don't have to go back and you can find another organization to help.

As we approach the season of giving, I hope you think about adding some volunteer efforts into your schedule and give back to your community!

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Gandhi 

enjoy the chase,

skylar