Springing into Senior Year

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend and a Happy Mother's Day! Thank you to all of the mothers out there who support our decisions and desires to go to college! Ya'll are the best!!

Today I wanted to give some advice on what you should do in the spring of your junior year (either of high school or college)! You are about to enter the transition phase where all of your hard work has without a doubt paid off, so make sure you lay the groundwork for an amazing and fulfilling senior year!

1. Reach out to Recommenders - Before you leave for the summer, it would be a good idea to talk with your teachers and your professors who you think you may want to write your letters of recommendations for college applications or to act as your reference for future internship and job applications. It doesn't have to be an extensive conversation, but you will want to mention it to them that you are starting to think about your recommendations and that you think you would like them to write one in the Fall. This early notice will give them the opportunity, if they choose, to write it over the summer prior to the start of the year and the rush of other applications. If you don't want to mention the letter to them right away, then at least start having conversations with them about your future plans and they may bring it up too!

2. Speak with your Counselor or Advisor - Make sure you check in one last time with your school counselor or your Academic Advisor so that you can start talking about plans for the future. They may have some extra advice for you on tasks you can do over the summer to better ensure your plans will work out! They also may know about opportunities for this summer where you can work or gain more experience in your choice career!

3. Take your SATs/ACTs - For you juniors in high school, you will want to take your first round of college tests. Then also schedule one for next fall too. This allows you to utilize all of those math skills that you are using in your upper-level classes to do really well on the math portions of the exam. Oftentimes, your school will offer test preparation courses or after-school programs, so take advantage of those. Taking your exams before the summer let's you know your average score for when you visit colleges and have conversations with admissions counselors!

4. Prepare for Graduate School - For you college students, use this summer as your opportunity to prepare for graduate school. This could be prepping for and taking your GRE, LSAT, or GMAT or just completing more internships to round out your resume and experience. While this is the "last" summer before life really hits you, you still want to take it seriously and start planning for your future goals!

5. Take on a Leadership Position - Honestly, being a leader on your high school or college campus is really important for improving your people and management skills. If you are already a member of a club, then run for a position and if you are already an officer, then why not run for the President position! Management is a skill you will need no matter what career you choose, so taking advantage of leadership opportunities is really important. Personally, I always started out as a secretary because I loved to write and take notes. If you're better at math and finances, why not a position as Treasurer? Find the opportunity that best fits your personality and then go for it!!

6. Plan to Attend a Summer Camp -  High School juniors, use your last few weeks of school to lay the ground work for attending a summer camp; whether academic, arts, or leadership - based. It will be an amazing experience for you to get that first glimpse of life away from your house. For academic camps, you will most likely need recommendations from your teachers and a transcript, so you will want to make sure you secure those before leaving for the summer. If you are attending a leadership camp, just make sure you have all of the contact information you need. ( I attended Girls State, which is a politically-based leadership camp for high school juniors throughout your state (Each state has one) where you develop the government of a new state. I loved every second of it because it was something I enjoyed and I was surrounded by girls with the same interests that I had.) Look into a program that you will gain the most out of!!

As you finish up your school year, make sure you set the scene for what your senior year will be like! Make it enjoyable and prosperous as you begin your transition into becoming a senior!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

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

What's in a College Part 1: Liberal Arts Colleges

Hello everyone! Today, I begin a series on the different types of colleges and universities there are available to you. The first type I am going to discuss is the Liberal Arts College.

Liberal arts colleges are typically on the smaller side and focus mainly on undergraduate education. Because of the smaller size, you are able to have a better connection with your professors and establish rapport with them a lot easier. You can discuss the course material more easily with them, ask them questions about career opportunities, and even attend events around campus with them and their colleagues. Usually classes will be larger in the introductory courses, since a lot of students take these (25-40 students), but once you get into your major-specific courses, your classes tend to be even smaller (10-15 students).  You become close with your fellow students and professors while creating lasting friendships and relationships.

A liberal arts curriculum means that you have to take classes that are required for your major, as well as, classes that fit "general education distribution requirements." This means that you will also have to take a class or two in psychology or education, a type of science, a foreign language, mathematics, literature, art, and history. The specific requirements vary between colleges, but this type of education helps you get a well-rounded academic experience. This is especially helpful if you are going into college undecided; you can wet your feet in many genres of courses, while still meeting requirements for graduation in 4 years.

My experience: I attended a small (1,200 students) liberal arts college for my undergraduate education and it was the perfect setting for me. I wanted a community atmosphere with traditions, close connections with faculty and administrators, as well as, many unique opportunities to become involved on campus. I received all of these things plus more at my alma mater, Elmira College. I enjoyed taking classes in the different subject areas, as well as, being able to dance, be a Resident Assistant, work in multiple offices, and join as many clubs as I wanted. I made my college experience what I wanted and I enjoyed every second of it. Also, liberal arts colleges have fantastic alumni who donate to the college, so usually they offer really great scholarships as well. For me, this was a HUGE perk!! (Because of my scholarship, it was cheaper for me to go to a private college than it would have been to go to a public, state school.)

US News and World Reports establishes a list every year of the best colleges in the nation. Here is their ranking of the best Liberal Arts Colleges. Disclaimer: Don't judge a school based on its ranking. You need to find a college that best fits your needs, expectations, and desires for a college education. Use these rankings as an opportunity to research some liberal arts colleges that you're attracted to at first glance to see if you actually want to pursue them!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

P.S. These photos are of Hamilton College, a prestigious liberal arts college located in Clinton, New York.