Keys To Success In College

College education is a big step for anybody to take. Many
young people are overwhelmed when they are standing on that
threshold. However, there are some tips you can follow that
will help you along. If you follow them precisely they can
become your keys to success in your higher education !

It is wise to start up with the planning early. In fact,
it’s never to soon to think about what you want to do with
your college education. A question like ‘What do you want
to do with your life?’ can be pretty Scary, huh? But as a
matter of fact, it shouldn’t be. Since planning has to do
with questions like What I will be doing ten years from
now, it should be a fun and exciting session to look
forward to

But getting into the right school and getting where you
need to go is tough. The competition is stiff. Everybody
is trying to get into the most coveted schools, so you have
to think about your strengths.

Unfortunately, those SAT and ACT scores are important. I
know, that’s no accurate test of what a brilliant and
creative and deserving individual you are. But, that’s the
way the system works. Do you want to be admitted into a
top-notch Ivy League school? Then you have to get those
scores as high as you can. Actually, it’s good to do that
no matter where you are applying.

What else makes a difference? Your whole academic record
will help you get into the school of your choosing. Watch
you attendance and grades. Those will all be factors.
Last year, the admissions boards had the toughest time
choosing applicants. The stakes are being raised, and you
don’t want to get left behind. So, don’t blow off those
easy classes or settle for second best when it comes to
grades; it matters in the end.

Test scores are important, and they are getting higher
every year. What this means, is that you will have a
tougher time than those before you. The competition is
high. One reason for this is the wide availability of
study guides to help you crack the tests. Everyone is
buying these and studying, and it’s paying off with high
test scores. This is why it’s more important than ever to
blow those scores away.

Public high schools are increasingly cracking down on
disciplinary problems. If you are planning on a lucrative
college career, watch what you do in high school. Remember
how everybody always says, ‘This will go on your permanent
record?’ Well, this will go on your permanent record.
It’s always best to keep on the safe side and stay out of
trouble. A little trouble today can cause you a lot of
trouble tomorrow.

Many parents are getting non-traditional educations for
their kids, or sending them to private schools. This is
one way to ensure the quality of their education. These
kids have a distinct advantage over those who attend
regular public schools. Once again, the bar is rising. It
has been shown that home schooled kids usually have test
scores comparable with those who attend private schools.
This means that they are not just doing what it takes, but
going above and beyond what is expected.

We have seen that the more active parents are in helping
their kids with their studies, the more it will pay off.
All parents wish the best for their children and if your
parents seem pushy about grades and overbearing, remember
that they’re just looking out for your best interests for
the next few years. With a good college education, you can
find a great job and make good money. The process starts
in high school, and what you put into it is what you get
out of it.

If you think all this sound intimidating, you probably
should re-think it: it’s not reallyintimidating at all.
Just hit your books and take your studies seriously. Don’t
blow it off, be patient and try to get the highest scores
you can. Rest assured that the future is in your hands.

David Richards is a sociologist and web publisher who writes 1st-self-improvement.net/selfimprovement_pf/self_help_article_list.html Self Improvement Articles. You can read more at 1st-self-improvement.net Self Improvement.

Making the Most of Your Summer

At last, summer is here! After a school year full of hard work, you can
finally put away your books, break out your bikinis, and soak up the
sunshine. This is not only what you deserve but in fact what you need: If
you have been working to your maximum level during the school year,
you owe your body about two weeks off during the summer for a real
break. Go ahead and pursue your favorite pastime, relax, sleep, and
reflect on the past year and the year to come. Do not, however, get too
used to your life of leisure! From a college admissions standpoint, it’s
important to be productive during your summer months. Working is
looked upon favorably by the more selective colleges; working on your
tan is not.

It is important to understand that when it comes time to apply to schools
in the fall, you will be competing for admission against a wealth of other
students who made the most of their summers by strengthening their
talents and skills and/or making up in some way for their weaknesses.
Ideally, you have already found something to do for the summer, but if
not, here are some summer suggestions.

For the summer after ninth grade, summer school can be a great idea,
particularly if you want to get ahead in your curriculum. For example,
rising sophomores in the past have used their summers to skip ahead in
their math track, some by taking a class that prepares them for an
honors or advanced level course, others by taking an intensive math
course that spans at least six weeks of the summer. Other students
have chosen to use their summers to take composition or creative
writing courses to strengthen their writing skills.

For the summer after tenth grade, you might want to try participating in a
program designed to strengthen one of your main talents. For example,
if you’re interested in engineering, you could try a program that teaches
students to design their own autonomous robots, such as Carnegie
Mellon West’s seven-week RoboCamp. Students who are artistically
inclined may want to try Northwestern’s National High School Institutes
(colloquially known as “Cherubs”), during which students who excel in
music, theater, journalism, film, debate and/or forensics hone their
talents through intensive workshops in their areas of interest. Another
great opportunity for prospective film students is through University of
Southern California’s Summer Seminars, where students can study
either screenwriting, the business and technology of film, or basic
animation techniques.

The summer after tenth grade also might be used to go away on a
program abroad. Two great resources for finding abroad programs are
www.goabroad.com and www.studyabroad.com, where you can punch
in specific countries and interests and find hundreds of excellent
programs that are off the beaten track. I recommend committing to a
program of at least six weeks: A true cultural immersion will usually take
more than a month, and it will take two weeks just to get over your jet
lag! Also, try to travel to a country where the residents speak the foreign
language you’re taking in school. In order to make the most of your
experience, try and stay away from programs with too many other
Americans, and try to devote yourself to one place for the entire stay.
For example, if you’re taking Spanish in school, it’s best to go to Mexico
or a Central or Latin American country rather than Spain, which is often
teeming with Americans. Also, in cities such as Barcelona, the
language of choice is Catalan as opposed to Spanish.

The summer after eleventh grade is a good time to try and find an
internship or other type of employment experience in one of your fields
of interest. If you’re interested in a sports-related career, let’s say, this is
an excellent summer to work for a sports agency or a sports channel
such as ESPN. To see the sports world from a different angle, you might
even want to try working in a law firm that has a history of representing
athletes. Not only would you gain valuable experience that would give
you a leg up on even the average college student, you might find a new
translation of your passion for sports.

Remember, nepotism is not looked upon favorably, so make sure your
work experience is aligned with your interests and not with your parents’
careers. After all, you are not just spending the summer in Dad’s office;
this should be made clear to the colleges. Likewise, if you’re holding
down a job or internship, the ideal amount of time to do this is for about
eight weeks. Given that the typical summer is twelve weeks long, you’ll
still have several weeks for relaxation and, of course, working on
college applications. IvyWise students in the past have interned in the
office of Senator Hillary Clinton, conducted original cancer research at
hospitals alongside professors, reported for major and local
newspapers, and interned at a variety of companies ranging from law
firms to Goldman Sachs.

If you’re a serious athlete with the chance of being recruited for your
sport in college, you will likely be spending the majority of your summers
on the field or in the gym, where coaches will get a chance to watch you
play. Sports camps and workshops are great for serious student
athletes; this is the path you must pursue to achieve entry into college-
level athletics.

Before you leave for summer break, I also recommend asking your
school for next year’s reading list for English and history. Beginning
your reading early is a great way to get a jump start on next year’s
homework. Also, starting your reading list during the summer will help
you gain a deeper understanding of the assigned material: When you
revisit your summer reading during the school year, you will be familiar
with the basic story and will therefore be equipped to conduct a better
analysis of the text. Also, if you choose to remain in your hometown
during the summer, colleges will love to see you continuing your school
year community service activities through the summer months.

Summer don’ts:

#1: CAMP. Unless you are a focused athlete and you are attending a
sports camp, sleepaway camp and camping trips should end before the
summer before ninth grade. The only exception to this rule is if a
student has the opportunity to take on a leadership role such as a CIT,
and even then, the summer before ninth grade should be the last year at
camp. Colleges are not looking for experts in the arts of s’more-making
and Spin the Bottle!

#2: TEEN TOURS. It may sound great to travel around the country with
a busload of other kids in your age group for a couple of weeks, and
while it’s true that you would get to sample the cuisine of many different
McDonald’s locations across the country, this will not help you get into
college. On a teen tour, students can never get to know one place well,
and it’s likely that they will be with students like themselves and will
therefore not get the opportunity to stretch. Teen tours are so organized
and scheduled that it’s nearly impossible for any one student to make an
impact in his or her community. Students should make sure that
whatever they do over the summer, they are somehow making an
impact, whether it be on an organization, a favorite cause, or a foreign or
local community.

#3: “IMMERSION” TRIPS. Any so-called cultural immersion trip that
lasts three weeks or less, particularly those of the Putney or ASA brand,
is not a wise use of summer time. These trips break up a student’s
summer and take the place of an in-depth program; they are vacations
rather than commitments and are not something to add to a college brag
sheet. Again, students should choose a program off the beaten track
that lasts for a minimum of six weeks so they have the opportunity to
grow and to make an impact.

#4: SUMMER SAT PREP. If you’re a rising junior, the summer is not the
best time to start preparing for your standardized tests. Sure, working on
vocabulary a few hours a week can never hurt, but devoting chunks of
your day to SAT tutoring or a class will only take the place of an activity
that you can put on your brag sheet. Furthermore, you are likely to
forget a lot of what you learn during the summer; you will absorb far
more during the year, when you are in “school mode.”

On a final note, when you are setting aside your personal time, make
sure you allow yourself time to have fun! As high school progresses, the
courses inevitably get harder and your workload will increases—it’s
important to use your summer break to unwind and reflect. While there
are always weekends during the school year, there’s nothing like a
sunny Wednesday on the beach, so please, make the most of your
freedom while you can! Have a great summer, and we’re looking
forward to hearing your stories.

Katherine Cohen is a college counselor at IvyWise, LLC,
ivywise.com ivywise.com

Packing for College – The 4-Box Challenge

The time has finally arrived for you to leave home and go away to college. What an exciting time!

If you are like most, your bedroom is currently a disaster area with clothes, books, compact disks and miscellaneous items strewn everywhere. You want to take it all and you cannot decide what to take and what to leave behind, and at the moment, this seems like a bigger decision that deciding which college to attend. How many times have you packed, unpacked and then repacked that favorite sweatshirt? Take a break, relax and let me share with you some insights into how to pack for college.

1) Your dorm room is small – if you overstuff it with clothing and personal items, there will be nowhere to sleep or study (which is the reason you are going to college, after all!). Additionally, you might not make the best roommate if you are hogging all the square footage in your shared room.

2) You are not leaving forever> – your parents are not going to rent out your bedroom at home as soon as you leave for college and you are coming back. Think short-term… what do you need for the first few months of college? What is the weather like in your college town in the fall? Pack accordingly and don’t take everything you own.

3) Things are going to change, and fast – Once you get to school, especially if you are going across country or perhaps to another country; you will find that college life is more or less casual than you anticipated. It is a good idea to pack the staples; jeans, sweatshirts, a few clubbing outfits, pajamas
and comfy study sweats and leave the rest at home. Once you have been at school a few weeks, if you find you are missing essentials from home, you can have mom or dad ship them to you or pick them up on your next visit back home.

If you want to succeed in taking what you need and leave the rest behind, try the 4-box challenge. Get four good sized packing boxes (but not appliance size) and line them up along one side of your bed, leaving plenty of free space in front of them. Get a marker and label them ‘clothing 1’, ‘clothing 2’, ‘school stuff’, and ‘personal’.

Now look around your room. One item at a time, place them in front of the box; sweaters and jeans in the clothing boxes, CD’s, toiletries and picture frames in the personal box, textbooks, duo tangs and writing supplies in school stuff. In this challenge, 2 boxes are allotted for clothing. One box should be essentials including your day-to-day clothing and the second box should be for special occasion outfits, your big fluffy bathrobe, shoes and a few purses.

If everything will not fit into the boxes, you must edit what you have selected. This is the toughest part of the challenge but with a little perseverance, you can do it. If you are having a tough time, ask yourself the following questions:

1) How many times have I worn this in the past month?
2) Will I use this item at least once a week for the next few months?
3) Can I live without it?

Keep plugging away until the boxes are full but not overflowing. Once you are done, close the boxes and tape them shut. You are ready to leave for college with your most favorite possessions. Now it’s probably time to clean up the aftermath!

© GradResumes.com – specializes in writing graduate resumes and college admission documents. With dozens of professional resume writers and education specialists, and some of the finest editing staff in the industry, GradResumes.com GradResumes.com has effectively helped thousands of clients launch their post-graduate careers and successfully gain admission to their schools of choice. Any reproduction or reprint of this article must include this information.

Nutrition Graduate Programs in North America

Find Nutrition Graduate Programs in the United States and Canada. If you’d like to achieve a Masters or Ph.D. in nutrition, you should first review admission requirements to nutrition graduate programs. Typically, prospective students must take an aptitude test prior to enrollment. Additionally, applicants to nutrition graduate programs must have earned a minimum undergraduate degree with an above average GPA.

Common studies involved in nutrition graduate programs are research in genetic and metabolic foundations (in animal and human diets), nutritional biochemistry, pathology in relation to nutrition, nutritional epidemiology, and other related subject matter.

Nutrition graduate programs that result in a Master’s (MS) degree entail in-depth coursework in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, advanced nutrition, physiology, and advanced human nutrition. In addition, students will almost always have to complete a thesis, as well as residency. Generally, nutrition graduate programs like this require a minimum of two years to complete.

Doctorate (Ph.D.) nutrition graduate programs include higher studies, doctoral dissertation research, and advanced nutrition sciences and research, among other associated courses. Ph.D. program lengths vary, but usually take between three and four years to finish successfully.

Students may also opt to participate in nutrition graduate programs with an emphasis on food science. These studies generally focus on food chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology; food processing, and supplementary research, thesis and residency. These nutrition graduate programs generally require the same amount of time and prerequisites as typical M.S. and Ph.D. courses.

Candidates who have successfully completed nutrition graduate programs in North America have potential to earn well over $60,000 annually in a faster-than-average growing career field. In addition to the positive financial outlook, professional nutritionists and dieticians gain overall satisfaction in helping individuals to make effective dietary choices in the prevention of disease, improved health and overall wellbeing.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding nutrition graduate programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Employment source: Bls.gov (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Nutrition Graduate Programs in North America
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Test Preparation for College Entrance — Tips and Strategies

Getting into the college of your choice means scoring high
on the college admissions test. In some countries, college
admissions exams are administered by the college or
university itself. In the US, there are many different tests
depending on the Institution. College entrance exams serve a
specific purpose. They are used to gauge whether the student
can live by the standards of the college and is ready to
tackle the academic workload. College entrance test
preparation requires both time and diligent study.

To make the preparation for the test easier, we have
prepared some tips and guidelines for the day before the
test and during the test.

General Tips:

Think positive and psyche yourself. Thinking positive and
psyching yourself will literally pave the way for more
effective study. Motivating your mind will open it up to
what lies ahead. It will also help you gather up the energy
and the desire that can sustain your long preparation for
the exam. Remember that your future is in your hands.

Research the college of your choice. Make a list of at least
the top three colleges or universities where you would like
to study and rank them. Find out their required grade on the
entrance exam. Once you your target, you know what grade you
must reach for.

Make a list of why you want to master the test. This list
may come in handy in the future. Like in a couple of weeks
when your spirits have shot down and you are feeling lazy.
The things you have listed will remind you of why you
decided to prepare for this test in the first place.

Gather your study materials. Compile your notes, textbooks
and study guides. It is important for you to consult a
diverse range of study materials. Study guides that are
available online or in the bookstores will provide you with
practice tests. Practice tests will give you invaluable
practice as well as the general ‘feel’ of the exam. Time
yourself when taking the practice tests to familiarize
yourself with the time pressure of the real exam.

Assess yourself. Take diagnostic or practice tests. Analyze
the result. Mark the areas you could consider your weak
areas. Concentrate on these areas when you begin studying.

Draft a study plan. The study plan must include the time
frame you will follow along with the topics you need to
cover. This will help you systematize your study habits.

Guidelines for the Test Day:

Eat a healthy meal the night before the exam. Having a
healthy meal will effectively nourish your faculties. You
need to be at your best when you take the test, which
includes being properly nourished and hydrated.

Get plenty of sleep. Make sure to have at least 7 to 8 hours
of sleep the night before the test. You need to be well
rested and relaxed. You don’t want to be drowsy and confused
when you take the test, right?

Get up early. By early we mean giving yourself enough time
to be fully awake when you take the test. The time here is
quite relative. Some people are fully awake a few minutes
after waking up, while some could use an hour or so.

Eat a healthy breakfast. Have a nutritious breakfast. Make
sure you don’t eat too much. You have to be energized
enough, but not too full when you take the exam.

Wear comfortable clothes and dress in layers. You don’t want
to be too hot or too cold. You cannot afford to be
distracted by anything while taking the test.

College entrance exams need thorough preparation. It may be
helpful to know your goals and which college you would like
to study in. These simple tips can go a long way when you
take your test. Remember, you will not be able to get into
the college you want to without pushing yourself

Brian Stocker is a former teacher and Psychologist. He has
written widely on education and testing. Visit his website
test-preparation.ca/college/index.html test-preparation.ca/college/index.html for
information, study guides on becoming a teacher, teacher
certification and test preparation.

A Little Certificate Can Go A Long Way

The word certificate does not need any introduction. In this day and age certificates mean a lot to everybody. When we graduate from a university, institute or a career training school, we get a certificate. A certificate is the proof of our successful completion of an education or training program.

The institutes where we take admission issue a certificate after the course. We get the certificate only when we pass the course. The institute mentions the name of the candidate, commencing and completion date of the course, percentage or the grade the candidate obtains and also a signature of the principal. Basically a certificate is nothing other than a declaration letter. In the certificate the seal of the institute is also usually embossed making it more impressive.

The certificate tells the success story in academics and training programs. It is very influential and a must for a person’s career. It creates an immense positive impression on the employer’s mind. Completion of a certificate program can serve as a signal to prospective employers that you are a person with the drive and determination to excel.

These programs are open to non-degree seeking students. The overall purpose of most certificate programs is to provide a study of fundamental principles, with primary emphasis on program of choice. Students who successfully complete there certificate program will be qualified to apply for entry-level positions. Prerequisites normally include basic skills competencies in reading, writing, and mathematics.

But if you are like most people you will want to know what is involved in the training program, which leads to the certificate. Well, there are lots of training programs conducted by many institutions to develop a person’s skill and knowledge. A training program could be on any topic such as business training, team building training program, sales training, programming training and many other topics. These are short-term programs and are a great way to learn.

A training program is very good for people who do not have any knowledge on the subject. Suppose a person would like to learn graphic designing then he can join the graphic designing training program, which would help him in learning the skills. It does not matter whether you know something on the subject and would like to learn more or if you do not have any knowledge on the topic and would like to learn about the subject, as there are training programs available for all.

There are different types of training programs such as, online training, crash course training programs, on-the-job-training programs, mentor training programs and others. These training programs help in developing the person’s skills. A training program is very helpful and a person is highly motivated after he completes the program. Training programs are designed for people who do not have much knowledge on the subject. By completing the training program a person has complete knowledge of the subject and this increases his or her job prospects.

A training program is a very good way to learn and gain knowledge. With the knowledge a person can get a job or open a company. There are on the job training programs wherein you learn the work by working under a senior person and you are paid a stipend during the training period.

For any job the basic criteria of selecting a candidate is a certificate showing good grades. Thus we apply for a job by forwarding a copy of the certificate along with our well-written resume. In some instances, a certificate may fulfill the professional development required at some places of employment to advance in position and salary.

Your professional status is also enhanced as you receive formal recognition for your increased knowledge and skill in your field of study. In short, certificates carry a lot of weight in our society and are essential for our progress.

Sherry Harris is the President and CEO of online career training school, Malibu Institute. For more information on master certificate courses and programs offered, go to:
MalibuInstitute.com MalibuInstitute.com

How to Win a Presidential Scholarship From a State University

I recently won a Presidential Scholarship from the University of Vermont, but not without some thorough planning. Even the best students must work to make themselves stand out during the college admissions process and distinguishing yourself from the other thousands of students who apply to big state schools is no easy task. Here are some tips for snagging admissions officers’ eyes at any public university in the country:

1.Write a stunning essay: If there’s a prompt, find out what it is as soon as possible so you have time to contemplate the question and create a unique response. Don’t regurgitate the same ideas everyone else is if the essay is a free-write—find something about yourself that will make an interesting topic. You don’t have to have done anything spectacular—it’s more about how you present the topic than the actual topic itself. If you write about you summer vacation without any flavor, then you might as well not write about it at all because no admissions officer is going to care. Find an angle that’s humorous, poignant, or just plain interesting. Remember—you don’t want to sound like everyone else!

2.Create a resume: And don’t be shy to brag! List every internship, volunteer activity, club, award, and honor of some emotional or academic significance. Even if it isn’t necessary to include one in your college application, do so anyway. Admissions officers will be impressed with the extra initiative you’ve taken and will be even more impressed if you have a long list of activities that demonstrate commitment to a specific area (ie, if you love animals and want to become a veterinarian, it’s great if you’re involved in things that communicate your interest in animal science, such as volunteering at an animal shelter, interning at zoo, holding an apprenticeship with a naturalist at a nature center, tutoring elementary school students in science, etc.) Also be prepared to describe the importance of each activity on your resume to an alumni or senior at the college if you go in for an interview (which you should do!)

3.Demonstrate leadership: Start a club, hold a leadership position in a club in your school or community, take a class in leadership, become a mentor for a younger student—-do something that proves that you’re not afraid to be in charge and voice your opinions. If you can hold a leadership for three or even four years of high school, colleges will be far more impressed than if you skip around and only hold a position for a semester or a year.

4.Schedule an alumni interview: Actively contact the school and ask questions. Request an alumni interview to express your interest in the school. Remember, there are at least a couple other thousand students applying to the university at the same time you are, so you want to catch the school’s attention. Make a good impression on the alumni by arriving to the interview location ten to fifteen minutes early, dressing appropriately, bringing a copy of your resume, shaking the person’s hand, smiling, and overall just being polite.

5.Showcase your talent: If you’re a talented painter, a great athlete, a top-notch writer, a math whiz, or have a gift in any other area, let the university know. If appropriate, send in a portfolio of your work or other supplementary materials. Ask your teacher or mentor in the subject to write a recommendation that explicitly compliments your talent in the field. The more attention you can bring to your talent, the better.

6.Take at least one SAT II: Even if the school doesn’t require it, take at least one SAT II in your best subject and send the score to the college. Admissions officers appreciate having as much academic information about you as possible.

Getting accepted by big state schools is becomingly increasingly difficult as admissions standards creep up every year, making it even harder to win a large scholarship. But if you make yourself stand out and are thorough, organized, and persistent, then luck may just fall on your side.

ChristineStoddard is a DIY fairy-child from Bourgeois-ville, Virginia who loves listening to obscure indie music and collecting cicada moltings. Her favorite word is “imbue” and her least favorite food is mushroom pie—and, yes, that is actually a dish.