Making the Most of Admissions Phone Calls

Hi everyone and Happy February! I hope 2017 is continuing to prove to be a great year for you. Today I wanted to talk with you about the phone calls that you get/will get from admission offices. Depending on the college, they will most likely be once a month or so. In my experience, a lot of students don't know what to do when they get these phone calls, so I thought I would share my suggestions with you all!

First, I'll give you a little background about my phone calling experience. I have worked in an admissions office making phone calls to students for the past six years. Before then, I was on the receiving end of the phone calls. So I know all about the good, the bad, and the ugliest of phone conversations and how to help you make the most of them!

Confession, these phone calls are to answer your questions and help you make your decision and that is all. They are not meant to annoy you or turn you off from the college. They usually have a purpose behind them: congratulations on your acceptance, file your fafsa, review financial aid package, come to accepted students day, have you made a decision. Right there that is five phone calls that you could get from an admissions counselor. Plus, the conversations you will have with current students so they can answer your questions about their experiences. LOTS OF PHONE CALLS and lots of opportunities to get your questions answered, here are my suggestions:

1. When a question comes up in your head about a school, write it down. Keep all of your questions together so that you can grab that notebook or open the Notes App in your phone to ask the counselor or the student the questions you want to know.
2. Separate those questions into those to ask students and those to ask your admissions counselor. For example, students are a lot better to talk about how often they use the library and what type of events are going on throughout the week, whereas your admissions counselor would be better to talk with about your financial aid package. 
3. If they are calling too much, let them know! It is super okay to tell them, "Hey, I really like your college, but you are calling a little too much and I just need time to really weigh my options." I can't say that this will definitely work, but any self-respecting admissions counselor would lay off the calls for a few weeks. 
4. Do not, do not, DO NOT hang up the phone on someone. That is incredibly rude and should in general just not be done, especially to a professional who is just trying to help you. If you are not interested in a school anymore, then tell them! It might take a few weeks to get out of the system, but telling them sooner rather than hanging up on them will do the trick and will help you out in the long run. 

I have always loved interacting with prospective and accepted students through phone calls. It is a great way to learn more about a college and start building a connection with the people there. Use these phone calls to your advantage to help you make the best decision possible for your future! 

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Book Review: Grace, Not Perfection

Hello all! If you recall from last year, one of my New Year's Resolutions was to read one book per week ... that didn't last long, but it did help me adopt the belief that if I find a book I really like, to buck up and take my time to read it.

 

This fall and early winter all I wanted to read was Grace, Not Perfection by Emily Ley, and after the holidays, I bought it on e-book and finished it in a week. It is a pretty quick read, but it is just as transformational. It is all about moving past this idea of perfection, over-planning, and worrying and embracing a life of beautiful chaos and doing so with confidence and poise. Truly a great read for anyone out there, but I thought I would use Emily Ley's concepts and thoughts as inspiration for today's post.

Emily has so many great, quotable pieces in her book, but what I took from it is that we need to live in the moment and be appreciative for what season of life we are in. I think that now a lot of us in the younger generation (15-25ish) are constantly looking for that next thing or to get on to that ultimate goal at whatever cost. This means picking work over family, studying over laughing with friends, being on our phone over visiting our grandparents .. basically anything that we can do that will help elevate us in our career. (I am 100% guilty too).

But, while reading Emily's words and convictions it really reminds you that you are exactly where you need to be to get to where you are going! We don't know what the future holds or where work and family will actually take us, but because of that we need to be satisfied in knowing that this moment is what is right.

I'll be very honest with you all throughout college, I was constantly wishing I was somewhere else in life; married to my now-fiance, working full-time, living in a big city, "thirty, flirty and thriving" ... etc. and because of that I never stopped to make any true real memories with my friends, I was constantly working towards that next goal, that next A, or that next great compliment from a boss. I missed out on so much because I was so anxious about what was to come in the future, that I wanted to prepare in every way possible. Now, I do not regret anything about my college experience because it brought me to this point, however I wish I had been able to read Emily's words a little bit sooner and embrace my college years and those moments.

One of the last thoughts she shares in the book, which is highly appropriate, is:

"One day we'll add up all our seasons - the Joyous ones,
the heart-wrenching ones, the momentous, average, and
peaceful ones. When we do we'll have a rich life story."

- Emily Ley, Grace, Not Perfection

And I truly think that this is what sums up college in a nutshell. College can be the craziest, scariest, most fun, and most frustrating time in our lives, but when you put all of those moments together, they give you the best, most transformational years of your life. So love and enjoy this season of life you are in (or about to be in) both the breakdowns at 2am and the celebrations at 2am because you will look back on both in years to come with fondness and appreciation. 

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Day In the Life: College Admissions

Hi everyone! It has been a crazy week ... let me tell you! With work being busier than ever and lots of personal things going on, I am so happy it is Sunday! I hope you all had a great week of strategic goal setting and getting more in-tuned with your resolutions. Remember, they only become a habit if you let them, but let's move on to today's blog post!

Ever since I started my job as an Assistant Director of Admissions, I have wanted to do a day in the life post about what my day looks like as an Admissions Counselor. Every day is different and this past week wasn't typical by any means. We had a switch up in how we were working on students' applications and it was really an all-hands-on-deck type of week before I visited some high schools on Thursday and Friday. Nonetheless, I wanted to share with you all what a typical day in my college admissions office looks like! If you're interested ... keep reading!

Me in my office at the start of a great morning!

8:30am - Arrive and E-mails: My day technically isn't supposed to start until 9:00am, but I like to get into my office 30 to 45 minutes early so that I can get a jump start with planning my day and reading e-mails. In a day I probably send out 100 e-mails and usually when I get in in the morning I have some responses from colleagues, my student workers, and the students with whom I'm working. It can be kind of daunting (especially Monday mornings), so I like to start a little bit earlier to set myself up for a successful day. I'll also use this time to look over my schedule and make a to-do list based on all of the meetings and things I want to accomplish so that I know what's important and what I need to get done!

9:30am - Review Applications: We review applications every day so that there is a shorter wait time for our students to learn their decisions. Because of this, I like to review right away in the morning so that if I need to contact a school counselor about a student or request current grades, there is plenty of time to do that. This usually takes up the majority of my morning because I read through EVERYTHING that is in a student's file. I like to read each letter of recommendation, essay, and any other supplemental pieces a student provides, so it takes quite a bit of time to read each file. It's great though because I'm really able to learn a lot about my students!

11:30 - Interview: Lately a lot of my students have been visiting for the 10:00 tour, so after their tour I will interview them and answer any questions that they or their family have. I really enjoy meeting with students when they visit because it helps me learn even more about that, but also it helps them get to know me and understand my work style.

12:00pm - Lunch: Typically I will stay in the office during my lunch or I will go visit my grandma for a little bit. This is just my time to catch up with my colleagues, but also de-stress and check out social media. I am on twitter and then I also have a personal Instagram that you can follow me on. All the info is above in my Contact Me page. If I'm really busy or wasn't able to read all of my applications then I will work while I eat too.

12:30pm - More E-mails: I will use the time after lunch to follow up on my e-mails and voicemails from the morning so that I can call back any schools or plan on following up with the appropriate people while they are still working.

1:00pm - Office Tasks: So, I will use about an hour and a half working on other tasks and responsibilities within the office. So, not only do I work with students and review their applications, but I am also in charge of our Ambassador program (the tour guides) and I am also on the Events Committee. So, I may have to work on scheduling, on hiring or just troubleshooting any issues or concerns that come up throughout the week and day that need to be dealt with. Besides working with the students and their families, helping to plan out events is something that I really enjoy about my job!

2:30pm - Phone Calls: From about 2:30pm until I leave at about 5:30pm, I am doing phone calls and e-mailing students directly about their applications, events coming up, or exciting news. I like to call students when I have an update about the status of their application because I think it helps reduce anxiety about the college search process. I know when I went through the process, the waiting and not-knowing where I was in the stage was the hardest part, so I don't want any of my students to feel that way!

5:30pm - Check-In/Review: At the end of my day, I really like to check and see what all I got accomplished and what all I need to focus on for the next day. Knowing the night before what I will be walking into tomorrow helps me better prepare. For example, if I know it's not going to be too busy then I might go in at 9:00am, instead of 8:30am. This is my personal plan and it has really worked well for me and staying on track throughout the day.

So there you have it folks ... a day in my life as a college admissions counselor! All days are different and I never know what is truly waiting for me until the day unfolds, but ultimately I love what I do and I really enjoy working with the students, families, and schools that I do, which makes it all worth it!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Strategic Goal Setting

Hi everyone!

What a week! I hope you all are feeling happy and confident that you had the best week possible in your chase for college and future opportunities! With new semesters starting and the looming thought of new year's resolutions, I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about strategic goal setting!

 

Now this isn't your typical, "I want to get an A" goal setting. This is goal setting with focus and steps to help you achieve your goals and gain that feeling of accomplishment! Let's get started ...

1. Define your goal - What is it that you want to accomplish this week, semester, or year? Is it getting an A, is it gaining more followers on Youtube, or is it loosing weight? Whether it is academic-related or more personal, you need to accurately define this goal. Be specific in your goal. You need to quantify it so that you have something to aspire to.
2. Quantify your goal - Now that you know what you want to accomplish, it is necessary to put some numbers or some adjectives to it. So you want to get an A, great, but where do you want to get that A? In Bio? In Class Participation? Gym Class? ... etc. You want to get healthy, does that mean eating more salads or working out three times a week?  I don't know about you, but I am more likely to work out everyday if my goal is to lose thirty pounds, than if my goal is to "get healthier." Think about it and structure your goal so that taking steps to do it, will be easier. That brings us to ...
3. Make your procedure - How ya gonna do it folks? How are you going to map out your days and your weeks so that you have no choice but to succeed in accomplishing your goal? Your goal is to raise my GPA (1.), by increasing all of my classroom grades by five points (2.), and I am going to do this by a). using my commute to school to read my notes, b). stay after school twice a week to work in the library and meet with a teacher, c). locate one classmate who I can study with the week leading up to a test. These three procedures are all small, but very doable aspects of helping this student reach their goal.
   
   Your goal will seem more manageable when you break it down into actionable items that can be worked into your schedule easily.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Create Check-Ins - If you've ever seen The Biggest Loser on NBC or any of those weight-loss shows, you know that they do a check-in at the end of each episode to see what was lost. Make a check-in a regular part of your goal. For the student above, it could be checking on their grades in each class on Fridays, or if your goal is to increase your number of youtube followers, have a check in at the same time every two weeks. Once you know the numbers, think about what happened that week to help you reach your goal or give you a little setback. Use this as fuel to continue working towards your goal. If you fell off the wagon, then create a new procedure to counteract that until the next check-in. We are all human and we make mistakes, but what's important is to keep working hard to accomplish those goals that you have set!

Setting goals is a part of growing and improving to help us reach a better spot in life. Set yourself up for success by following those four steps so that once you are done with the semester, the year, or even this week. You know that you worked as hard as possible and did everything in your power to accomplish them!

What are the goals that you have set for yourself and how are you accomplishing them? Feel free to comment below or tag me on twitter at @Chasing_College.

enjoy the chase,

skylar

31 Questions to Ask a Tour Guide

Hi everyone! I hope your week was great and you are on your way to the best 2017 possible!  (Hint: It will be because you're chasing college. 😉)  I know that when you go on visits to college campuses, you aren't exactly sure what you want to ask ... trust me, I've been there on both sides of the tour!

Here's your ticket to bring prepared! I've compiled my list of great questions to ask the tour guides and students you meet while you are on campus! Here we go ...

1. Have you ever had a conversation with the president?
2. What has been your favorite class so far?
3. What has been your least favorite class so far?
4. Where do students spend their time between classes?
5. Does Student Activities host any day trips places?
6. What do your college friends study and do? (**This will help show you if the college is cliquey or if students grow friendships outside of just their major or their sport.)
7. Do most students go home on the weekends?
8. Do students have to pay for tickets to sporting events?
9. How often do you meet with your academic advisor?
10. For students that live off campus, what neighborhood do they typically live?
11. Is there a doctor in the Student Health Center, or do students have to go to a local Urgent Care to be seen?
12. What made you choose to go to school here, as opposed to the other colleges you applied to?
13. What's your favorite spot on campus? (**This is my favorite question - it gives you something special to look out for, especially if it's a hidden secret.)
14. How are faculty and administrators committed to student success?
15. Where do students spend their Saturday Nights?
16. Can every student use the athletics facilities or are they only reserved for team use?
17. What can a student not have in their dorm room? Microwave? Keurig? Scentsy? Twinkle Lights?
18. How do students get care packages or larger deliveries?
19. Do more Freshmen choose their roommate or have one matched to them?
20. What is the winter weather like on campus? (**Even two campuses in the same city can have different weather. It's good to know to plan for just rain boots and good rain jacket or a down winter coat and snow boots.)
21. Are the intramural sports played within teams from the college or do the intramurals only play against other colleges?
22. Would you say this is a more liberal or conservative campus? (**They will most likely answer in a politically correct way [I would tell my student workers to answer very pc], but it is something to ask that could help you find your fit at a school.)
23. Is there a full kitchen with stove and oven in each residence hall?
24. What do students do to relax during the day?
25. Do your faculty and administrators have office hours that students can drop-in for if they have a question or need help?
26. How late is the library and the dining facilities open during the week and on the weekend?
27. Is there a lot of school spirit on campus? Does everyone support student performances?
28. Can you recite the alma mater? (**If you're looking for a college committed to tradition, your tour guide should at least be able to recite a line, if not the whole song!)
29. How do students get around campus? walk? bike? bus? car?
30. How is the relationship between the college students and those who live in the town?
31. Why should I choose this college? (**Don't accept "Because it's awesome," as an answer.)

I hope all of these questions will help you feel prepared for your next campus visit. If you won't be visiting a while, be sure to pin this or bookmark it to come back to for future college visits!

Is there another questions, that you always ask on college visits? Comment below so I can add it to my list! Have a great week!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

New Year's Resolutions: Prepping for College

Hello everyone and Happy New Year! It feels so good to be back at it with new content for Chasing College! It seems kind of perfect that I'm starting back up on New Year's Day!! I wanted to do a New Year's Resolutions post for students specific to the grade level you are at.

I've said many times throughout these posts that you can always be working towards your college goals and New Year's Resolutions are no different! Let's get started!!

9th Grade

1. Work Hard  - This seems really silly of a New Year's Resolution, but keep working hard in all of your classes. Set yourself goals, like improving your class participation or your homework completion so that you can set yourself up for success for the rest of the year!

2. Join a Club - If you haven't joined a club in your high school yet, right after Winter Break is a great time to do that. It's a great chance to find your niche in school and continue building your interests.

3. Meet your School Counselor - Set yourself up for success for the next 3.5 years by taking the initiative to meet and talk with your school counselor. Let them know what career path you might want to go down so that they can keep their eye out for any special programs or courses for you in the future.

10th Grade

1. Study - Take your time and study for those tests. Make it a resolution that you will spend a half an hour each night reviewing your notes for all of your classes. This will not only help for tests, but it will also help you with homework and essays in the future.

2. Take on a Leadership Role - Whether your class or a club needs help planning an event or a fundraiser, step up and see how you can help. Even if it is as small as organizing work shifts for a school dance, it will help you spread your wings and put you in a spot for future leadership!

3. Be Nice to your Family - This may not be to prep for college, but I can tell you I was a BRAT when I was in 10th grade, moody, mouthy, and miserable to my family. (I've heard from friends and colleagues that this is common among 10th graders). Because of this, just try to make your life and your family's life just a little bit easier by thinking before you speak ... your parents will be a little more reluctant to have you go on vacation with your bestie this summer ... just saying (not from experience or anything ;) )!

11th Grade

1. Get those Grades Up - Admissions Officers look at your 11th grade year more than anything else. Use this as a chance to make a last ditch effort to improve your grades. Insider Tip: If you don't have the best scores, we do like to see an upward trend in grades, so start studying, participating, and working on your homework. Even if you have to stay after school two nights a week to force yourself to get your homework done, make it your resolution so that you can get into your dream school!

2. Volunteer in your School - Volunteering and community service should always be on your New Year's Resolution list, but use this year as a chance to commit yourself to your school community. Take your study hall and volunteer in an elementary classroom, in the lunch room, with facilities, or in an office. This will put you in a great spot for a terrific letter of recommendation on your heart, commitment, and leadership!

3. Delve into your Career - Meet with your counselor to talk about job shadowing or summer camp opportunities that will look good on your college application, but also help you learn more about your career. Make it a resolution to do something that will help your future self in their career!

12th Grade

1. Take Advantage of Opportunities - You are entering your last six months with the people you've been around for twelve years. Take advantage of every opportunity to go to an away game, attend a concert, be in a play, help out another grade level, work with a teacher after school. Whatever comes in front of you to cherish, take advantage of it, otherwise you will regret it.

2. Challenge yourself - However you define challenge, go ahead and take it. Whether it is taking an AP class, running with the Track team, or learning how to cook in Home Economics, do it! You will thank yourself for getting outside of your comfort zone and learning new things!

3. Step Back and Watch - Especially with your leadership roles, make it your resolution to start stepping back and letting others step up to the plate. If you are president of a club, let that 10th grader come in and help you with some of your responsibilities. It will help them learn to lead under your guidance and you can set the stage for success once you step away. 

I hope that these targeted New Year's Resolutions will get you excited and motivated for 2017 and prepping your life for college! If you want some more ideas for resolutions, check out last year's post here. If there is anything I can do to help or a post on one of the resolutions, comment below! ⇩⇩ Thanks for reading and ...

enjoy the chase,

skylar

P.S. Be sure to follow me on all of my social media channels to stay up-to-date on all that is happening at Chasing College and beyond!

Coming Back in 2017

Hi everyone!

A few months ago, I made the decision to take a break from the Chasing College blog. Entering a new job, changes to my personal life, and trying to figure out life after grad school took time to figure out and manage. (Trust me when I say that a change from being a full-time student to working more than a typical 9-5 job will take time to adjust!)

But, I am coming back in 2017 to blog for you and all of you who are new to Chasing College because this is still a huge passion project for me and I now have the refocused excitement to continue impacting my readers!

If there is any topic you want covered in the coming months, feel free to comment below! As always....

enjoy the chase,

skylar

A Pause

Hi everyone, I hope you all have enjoyed the last few weeks.

It is with much thought and debate that I am deciding to press pause on Chasing College. I had every intention of continuing with this blog as I began my new job, however with the time and personal commitments that have come into my life, I no longer have time to devote to quality posts and content.

I have truly enjoyed writing this blog over the last year and should time allow in the future, I would love to continue. If you need advice, please feel free to reach out to me through my Contact Me page above. Until the next time ....

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Great Organization for Small Spaces

Hi everyone! I hope you all are having a great week! For those of you who follow me on Instagram (@skylarclapperton) you know that my fiance and I recently moved into our first apartment together. All of the organizational hacks that have pinspired (inspiration from Pinterest) me have finally come to fruition and I wanted to share them with you!

So, I've lived in many tiny dorm rooms, as well as, just a bedroom in a 4 person apartment, so I definitely understand that furniture and extra organizational items need to be functional, but also save space. I've acquired a few things over the years and I have also added some as my needs have changed. But, enough with the rambling, let's get started!

Storage Ottoman

How I even survived during my college years without a storage ottoman, I don't know. They are a perfect extra piece of furniture, whether to put your feet on or to have guests sit on. They also play double-duty with all of the stuff they can fit inside of them! I use my ottoman to hold all of my greeting and thank you cards, as well as, some of my art supplies. I know where everything is and they aren't taking up any space on a shelf or in a desk drawer.

You can find these almost anywhere: Walmart, Target, HomeGoods ... etc. They come in so many different styles and sizes that are sure to compliment any decor in your room or apartment!

Closet Tension Rod

When I lived in my apartment during grad school, I had to supply my own curtain rod, so when we moved into our new apartment, with an already attached shower rod, I decided to put it to another use! We let our clothes air dry most of the time, so I put this tension rod across the doorway to save space with drying our clothes. We also use it for dress clothes that are ironed for a special event.

The great thing about this is that it does not take up any space, as long as you put it up high, and it is also movable. So, if you don't like where it is or if you only need it every so often, you can take it down and store it in a closet until the next time. You can find these in the curtain section in any department store or at a Walmart or Target.

Plastic Storage Shelf

This is literally one of the simplest, ugliest storage options, but it is also one of the most functional. It has been used to hold food, supplies, cooking equipment, and now its being used as a pantry. We don't have a lot of storage space in our kitchen, so we are using this to store our bigger drink bottles, extra paper products, and even my toolbox.

We placed it behind the door to save even more space. It has really come in handy for those 10/$10 deals at the grocery store. Any storage shelf will be so useful when you like stocking up on extra stuff each week!

Magnetic Message Board

Before I started grad school, I was graciously gifted an old, grungy cookie pan to use to cook. I'm kind of a spazz when it comes to clean/unused cooking supplies, so I thought I would just refurbish the old cookie pan to act as a magnetic message board. 

All I did was spray paint it black (you can pick any color that would match your decor), let it dry, and then started sticking papers and magnets to its front. I secured it to the wall using Command Strips (a lifesaver no matter if you live in an apartment or a dorm room)!

DIY Clothespin Holder

 I had one request to my fiance before we moved in together and that was to build me a holder for all of our drink koozies. We both collect them and I wanted a cool way to display them. To do this, he took an old window frame, nailed wire across the sections and then painted it white. So simple, yet so cute!

What's great is that if you would rather hang some pictures on it or use it to display recipes in your kitchen, you can do that! All you need to do is find the size window that you want and get started. You can also hang this up using Command Velcro Strips. Its cute, functional, and its perfect for organizing whatever it is that you need!

I hope you all enjoyed today's blog post and found some inspiration for creating some great organization options for yourself in your apartment or your dorm room. This is a great time to see how small of an area you can live in and what organization hacks are most important. If you have some other suggestions on finding some great organizational pieces, be sure to comment below!

enjoy the chase,

skylar 

10 Quotes to Help you Through College Orientation

Hi everyone! Since a lot of you are going to be starting college orientation in the coming week or two (if you haven't already), I thought I would share some of my favorite inspirational quotes to help you get through Orientation. It can be a long few days of being in information session after information session without any real time to do what you really want: organize and decorate your room. So, while you're sitting in that session on Alcohol or Registering for classes, check back to this post to keep you inspired!!

"Isn't it fascinating how long a few minutes seem when you are completely alone with not a familiar face in sight?"

~ Kirby Lawson ~

"I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time."

~ Anna Freud ~ 

"Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent."

~ Sophia Loren ~

"The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning."

~ Oprah Winfrey ~ 

"Books ... are like lobster shells, we surround ourselves withe them, then we grow out of them and leave them behind, as evidence of our earlier stages of development."

~ Dorothy L. Sayers ~

"If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves."

~ Maria Edgeworth ~

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."

~ Andy Warhol ~

"Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do."

~ Oprah Winfrey ~

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you."

~ B.B. King ~

"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle."

~ Christian D. Larsen ~

Especially this last one, you will think in the coming days that you are not meant to be at college, whether it's your particular school, the program you joined, the distance from home, or other things in the past that make you question. This is your destiny and you are certainly strong enough to live it. Don't forget that as you overcome your fears and face new challenges in the coming weeks. 

enjoy the chase,

skylar

5 Things that Decrease your Productivity and How to Fix them!

Hi everyone and Happy Friday! With school starting and work going into full gear, I thought I would dedicate a post to all of the things that we do that only decrease our productivity. I am a self-described Maximizer (maximizer of time, energy, and resources) so anything that decreases my productivity needs to be lost to the world (or at least mine).

It took my a few years to perfect my productivity abilities, but after some time I finally realized all of the things that were keeping me down, so I wanted to share them with you all!

1. Staying Logged In to Facebook - This is the worst thing for you when you are trying to get things accomplished. The amount of time that I wasted on Facebook in my first year at college (it also didn't help that I was homesick) could probably span 8 weeks. By staying automatically logged in to any social media, all I had to do was go to the page and I was sucked into it for easily thirty minutes. This not only sets you back those thirty minutes, but also the amount of time that it takes for you to find again what you were working on and reorganize your thoughts. To combat this, my first tip is to click the 'log out' button on your social media settings. Then the next time you log in, make sure that you don't have "Automatically Log In" checked or just log out each time you go on. This will make it less automatic of a thing to go onto your accounts and you also have to consciously choose to log in. It's like another barrier of protection from decreased productivity.

2. Keeping your Phone on Your Lap - It's almost the same thing as staying logged into your social media accounts. If you keep your cell phone right next to you at all time, you will be twice as likely to grab it right when it dings with a notification. Whether a text message, instagram like, or retweet, it will only keep you from getting what you need to do done. Especially when it dings every few minutes. My suggestion is to keep it in your backpack, at the end of your bed, or in another room while you are working on things. You could also turn text messages and notifications to silent, while keeping your phone calls loud so that if someone is really trying to reach you, you'll be able to answer it!

3. Working with friends - Your study habits are different from your roommate's, your best friend's, and your sister's, so studying with them might actually distract you more than it will help you. With everyone else's phones going off, and notifications dinging every few seconds, the likelihood of distractions intensifies. While studying with people in your class can help you with the material, you definitely all need to be committed to getting work done in order for it to work. To fix your friends decreasing your productivity, it may be necessary to curtail studying with friends and just spending your free time with them. I know when I worked in the library alongside friends, I had to be working on a project that was okay to be distracted by: PowerPoints, outlines, highlighting ... etc. anything that wasn't too brain-intensive but something that still needed to be done. Set guidelines for yourself so that you know when it is appropriate for friend distractions and when you really need to hunker down and work by yourself.

4. Your Study Habits - It takes a while to get into a rhythm for your studying and homework patterns, but you need to make sure the ones that you are continuing are the ones that help you out the most. You may find that working in your dorm room is distracting or working in the library makes you break your concentration. Every person is different, so if you consistently find yourself looking up from your laptop or your eye wandering around the room while you are reading, you may need to think of a better habit. My tip is to try new methods and get feedback from people in your life. Learn how they study and what works best for them. It may not work for you, but it could spark a new idea to help your stay on task and focused to finish!

5. Food and Drink - To this day, nothing is more distracting to me than drinking a Frappucinno and eating popcorn. I'm so focused on enjoying those items that it distracts me from what I should really be working on. You may think you're saving time by combining eating with school work, but it honestly just distracts you more (especially when you drop some chili on your laptop). To combat this, use your eating time to focus solely on that or to browse your social media accounts. This could definitely kill two birds with one stone, but make sure you're combining something that is mindless with your eating so not to decrease your productivity even more.

As we enter the new school year, it is really important that you start making your productivity a priority. Doing that at the start of the semester before papers and tests start happening, is only going to keep you organized and focused as the school year progresses. Are there any tips that you have for increasing productivity or something you cut out of your schedule that used to decrease your productivity. Share below so we can all learn! Have a great weekend!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Large Campus ... Large Pictures

Hi everyone! So, one of the major reasons I started this blog and am obsessed with college is because of the beauty of college campuses. Their beautifully manicured lawns, towering ivy covered buildings, great stadiums and gymnasiums ... so many things that are fantastic to shoot through a camera lens!

While en route to vacation last month, we stopped at the University of Richmond to take some pictures. This campus was probably the biggest I've ever been on, so I wanted to share with you all some of the pictures I took!

The campus was so large, it had its own lake!

College provides you with opportunities to see the globe!

If it weren't located in Richmond, VA, you'd think a Grecian play performed here.

It was a hot, humid, and hazy day when we visited, but the campus was still gorgeous! Share your recommendations below on what campuses I should plan to visit in the future! I'd love to hear! Have a great day!!

 enjoy the chase,

skylar

College Packing Must Haves

Hi everyone! I hope you all are having a great weekend so far! For those of you headed out to college in the next few weeks, I wanted to do a post for you all about my college packing must haves! There are TONS of lists out there on what you should pack for your college dorm room. You could peruse Pinterest for years and still not find the exact items that I think you need! Let's get started!

Surge Protectors

When you're sharing a room with a roommate, your access to electrical outlets can be limited, especially if there are only two or three in the room to begin with. Because of this, my suggestion is to bring two different surge protectors with multiple outlets on them. Buy one with a shorter cord and one with a longer cord to make sure you will be able to reach all of your lights and appliances! 

Rain boots

In terms of clothes, rain boots are definitely the number one item I recommend students bring with them to college. Classes are outside, so you will need to walk through even the most torrential of downpours to get to a lecture. Rain boots are not only functional, but you can also find some really cute ones too. Another great thing is that they come in every price point and are available at a ton of stores, so the options are endless!

Professional Outfit

Another outfit item I recommend is bringing a few professional outfits with you. Especially if you think you might get a job on campus or you plan to interview for different opportunities throughout the year, it will come in handy. For those guys out there, definitely use your graduation party money (if you have any left) to buy a nice suit. This will come in handy for all four years in college and for internship and job interviews after graduation!

Stuffed Animal

If you are the sentimental type and have never slept the night without one of your stuffed animals, bring it with you! It will cause you less anxiety and overall make you calmer as you complete this transition. If you're worried about public opinion, then put it in your pillowcase. As a Resident Assistant, I saw so many of my residents bring their stuffed animals with them to college, while it can get excessive, don't feel weird if you bring your favorite!

Personal Contacts and Information

Any information that you are going to need while you are away at college you will want to bring with you. Contact numbers for your parents and other important people, your doctor's offices, and any other agencies that you use often (on paper also, you never know when you could lose your contacts in your phone). You will also want to have a copy of your parents' insurance cards if you do not use the student insurance offered at your college. Any paperwork that will be useful should an emergency arise, I would definitely bring with you!

Duffle Bag or Suitcase

You may be thinking to yourself, 'Well, duh, how else am I going to get my clothes to school.' But, you want to keep a small suitcase or a duffle bag at college with you so that you have it to pack clothes for a short weekend home or if you and your friends plan a trip out of town for Midterm Break. You can store it in your closet/wardrobe or if your residence hall has a storage area in the basement, you might be able to store it there too. 

Is there something you are definitely not leaving at home when you move into your dorm room in a few weeks? Be sure to share below in the comments! Good Luck with your packing and enjoy the last few days at home this summer!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

College As Told By Big Bang Theory

Hi everyone! I hope you all are having a great start to your week and are prepping to go back to school (high school or college). Today, I thought I would do a fun post for you about the lighter side of college.

College students are truly a paradox because they have so many weird aspects of their lifestyle and of the make-up of their ideals ... simply because they are full-time students. One thing you will find in college is that you will have a favorite tv show and you will binge-watch it all four years in college. Big Bang Theory was and still is my favorite binge-worthy tv show (I have all of the seasons on DVD!) Because of that, I wanted to share with you "College As Told By Big Bang Theory"

You will say this over and over again as you sit on your bed with your glasses on, blanket over your head, a hoard of Starbucks coffee cups surrounding the garbage can, and your laptop propped open after an all-nighter.  This will also be a night that you will never forget ... no matter how hard you try!

When you find your spot in the library ... this is exactly how you will feel. Whether you find a cubicle or a corner table, your spot will be as coveted as Sheldon's spot on the couch!

You will have plenty of these moments in college ... where you want to cry from someone else's stupidity. Whether it be people in your residence hall trying to wash their soccer cleats or by Freshmen throwing their phones and wallets away because they forgot to take them off the tray in the Dining Hall, you will find funny moments where you shake your head and question future generations. (It's okay, we've all done it.)

One comparison between BBT and College is that loving the Harry Potter Series is completely acceptable. It's actually sometimes frowned upon if you don't love the Series. Television HP movie marathons will insight floor bonding in any residence hall!

There will be times, man do I tell you there will be time,s when this comes across your mind - event planning meeting, class discussions, Senate Sessions, sports debates ... etc. The good thing about college though, is that you will be surrounded by different opinions, ideals, beliefs, and customs which will help increase your tolerance for all of those differences you will meet in the world!

There will be plenty of moments for pie eating contests, from the start of the Basketball season, to staff bonding as a Resident Advisor, and free gift card nights at the Dining Hall. It will all be worth it though to gain some bragging rights!!


While simple and silly, I hope that this post gave you a smile and good laugh. I highly suggest finding a tv show that is going to make you laugh no matter what time of day or what episode you are watching. College is incredibly stressful and having a tv show to watch for a few minutes to help de-stress, can do wonders for your mental health!

I hope you all have a great week ahead!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

P.S. All images from Pinterest

Tips for the Admissions Interview

Hi everyone! Today I want to talk to you all about the Admissions Interview ... a vital part of your college visit and your plans to apply to college. Most often these happen on the college campus that you are visiting in the Admissions Office, but sometimes when Admissions Counselors are traveling they may do them at a coffee shop. Since I feel that there's a HUGE mystery behind the Admissions Interview, I wanted to give you some tips to ease the anxiety going into one!

Don't be nervous! If you're interviewing for a prestigious scholarship, I get it, but in all honesty the Admissions Interview is really just a chance for you and your Admissions Counselor to connect and for them to answer your questions about the college. A big part of it is to see if the college is going to be the right fit for you, rather than if you meet the standards.

Talk! This may seem silly, but there are students who go into interviews and don't want to talk at all. Admissions Interviews are rarely ever mandatory, so if you feel that you are not ready for it, that is perfectly fine - don't request one, just go on your campus tour. But, if you do choose to do one, you will genuinely want to do your best to talk and answer questions.

Ask for an Off-Campus Interview! If you know that you are not going to make it to campus this fall, then talk with your Admissions Counselor about setting up an Off-Campus Interview. Oftentimes (unless you're across the country from the institution) they will be travelling in your area to visit high schools, so the chances of being able to meet for an Interview are pretty high. If you're normally shy, this may help you more since you will be in an area where you feel comfortable.

Be Honest! If you want to major in something, tell them. If you want to play a sport, tell them. No matter what, do not lie about the activities you are involved in or that you want to pursue in college just to make the Admissions Counselor happy. We want more than anything for you to see yourself at our institution, but it isn't meant for everyone and we recognize that. If football is a mandatory thing, then tell us that; don't just stop responding to e-mails or hang up on phone calls in the future. It will save everyone involved, including yourself, a lot of time.

Admissions Counselors are people too! Truly and honestly, our words don't always come out the way we want, we can't always think of the name of that club you'd be perfect for, and we can't always answer your questions. Please know though, the Admissions Counselor does care about your Admissions Interview and wants you to get as much out of it as you need to help make your decisions come a little easier.

Ask any Questions you have! Whether they seem silly or redundant, ask those questions that you have. It opens up the conversation and you let your interests and background show through. Ask about students leaving campus on the weekend or about accepting AP scores. These are all good things to ask and Admissions Counselor want to know where you need more information. Even if they don't know, they will always do their best to find the answer for you or point you in the direction of where to find it.

As summer is winding down and you are planning your last few college visits before school starts, make sure you plan on doing an Admissions Interview to learn more about the college and how it will fit your needs and expectations for college. I hope these tips help you plan your day and ease you into that Interview just a little bit better!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

3 DIY School Supplies

Happy August everyone and you know what that means .... school supplies time! This is literally my favorite time of year. Funny story ... this weekend I moved into an apartment with my fiance (sorry for the absence) and my mom and I were going through all of my school supplies ... literally two and half boxes filled with notebooks, post-it notes, folders, paper, pens, and so much more! Nonetheless, I am not-so low-key obsessed with school supplies and saving those pieces that have not quite lived their full life. Because of this, I wanted to dedicate a post into DIY-ing some cute school supplies before you head back to high school or college.

All of these items are things that I used everyday when I was in school and college, so I figured that they would be incredibly universal and customizable to whatever you like or what your color style is! Let's get started!!

FOLDERS

How can we even have a conversation about school supplies without recognizing the almighty importance of pocket folders. If I can recall my school lists over the past years, at least 4 folders have been on that list each year. As these can get pretty bland for the older kids (unless you love Hello Kitty and the Avengers ... no shame), I thought we could snazz them up a little bit! 

This first one is just a painted monogram that I created. What's great about the type of folder I bought (less than $1.00 at Walmart) is that you can make imprints on it if you press hard enough, so I drew the monogram I wanted, you can print yours too if you would rather, and then just traced it right onto the folder.

After that I got the paint color I wanted, which was regular craft paint that my mom had in her cabinet, you could also use paint pens if you prefer. Then I just started painting over the indents from the tracing. 

Because my gold paint was on the thinner side, I did three coats on it to have it stand out a little bit more. Once that dried, I added some dots around the rest of the folder to give it more decoration! 

This next folder design was a no fuss one which is great for those of you who want to be creative, but don't have the time or the mess to put into painting a folder. All of the stripes are made of Washi tape (also from Walmart - about $3.50) and you can put them into any design you want. 

The one thing I like about washi tape is that it sticks, but not so much that it's hard to get off if you make a mistake or if your line isn't straight ... it took me three tries! 

NOTEBOOKS

I love a good sparkle, so when I saw this Washi tape, I knew I had to get it to decorate my new notebook. 

So, another great thing about using tape or paint for decorating your notebooks or school supplies is that you can have it be functional, as well as, cute. I always had to label my notebooks when I was in high school, especially with only two minutes at my locker between class, which was really only 30 seconds because of the treks down the hallway and the stops to talk to friends! 

For this one I just layered the tape to cover over the hideous "70 sheets, college-ruled" that is printed on it, and also on the top to make it symmetrical. It actually did take a steady hand to make sure everything was even, but again, luckily it can come off and be re-taped to fix any mistake. 

To add some extra snazz, I added a "MATH" label using the Washi tape cut into the letters. It is a really simple way to add that label that you need without having to write it out in Sharpie. If you have to put your name on it, you could also do that! This would also work with other folders as decoration too!

BINDERS

So, this one was definitely a "let's see how this goes" design. I love the look of watercolor designs, especially as backdrops for quotes, so I wanted to recreate that on this binder. I have to say...I'm quite proud of how it came out.

First, I put painter's tape around all of the edges so that paint wouldn't get on the inside or on the binding (basically everywhere I didn't want it to end up). This actually made it a lot easier when I was painting so that I could easily go off the edges without the fear of getting it everywhere. 

Next, I put a base of white craft paint all over the binder using a foam paint brush. To help with the blending on the paint later on in the process, I put a decent amount of white paint on a small paper plate so that I could add pink to it to slowly pigment it. 

Each time I added a drop or two of pink into the white on the paper plate, I started about an inch from the top of the newest shade and painted the rest of the way down. Then, add another two drops of pink to made the shade a little bit darker, and paint about an inch below the start of the next lightest pink. 

This is to create that gradient effect that water color does. Once I had it all painted and was pleased with the outcome. I put a small coating of polyurethane over top of the binder to smooth it out. (Craft paint can be pretty chalky and can even rub off if it isn't treated.) So, this binder was I think $1.00, but it definitely looks a lot better than just a plain 'ole black binder! If you don't like pink, try blue or green! 

The great thing about DIY-ing your school supplies is that you can completely make it your own, if you hate the color pink, get blue sparkly Washi tape, or purple paint for your monogram. If you hate monograms but love a good emoji, trace and paint that onto your folder. It is all about you so make it something awesome to keep you motivated throughout the school year!!  

If you plan on DIY-ing some of your school supplies, feel free to tag me on Twitter (@chasing_college) or on Instagram (@skylarclapperton). I'd love to see them, you may just inspire my next project!! 

enjoy the chase,

skylar