Do’s and Don’ts in a College Interview

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The stressful college interview really gets into the nerve of every student because they consider this as one of their college admission requirements. Meaning, it contributes a lot for you to get into the college of your choice. You only have one chance to make a good impression to the college admission counselors or the college admission assistance so make the most out of it. So to help you easily get through the college interview, then you must remember the do’s and don’ts in a college interview.

Do’s

  • ·         Do prepare for the possible questions that will be asked from you and practice your answers at least a night before the interview.
  • ·         Do avoid distractions that might affect your preparation for the interview. Turn off your mobile phone or avoid attending parties or gimmicks a night before.
  • ·         Do dress neatly and smartly. As much as possible, avoid wearing jeans or shirts because it is a big No-No in an interview. To be safe, try to be conservative.
  • ·         Do wait for the chair to be offered before sitting.
  • ·         Do shake hands firmly.
  • ·         Do introduce yourself in a formal manner. Greet the interviewer by title and last name. Greet every person with courtesy.
  • ·         Do some asking, but in an intelligent manner, especially on the things which concern the school. This will give the interviewer the idea that you are interested in their school.

Don’ts

  • ·         Don’t be late. You must arrive at least 10-30 minutes early before the interview. A day before, you must already know the venue where you will be interviewed at.
  • ·         Do not be over familiar with your interviewee.
  • ·         Do not forget to stress out all your achievements. Always remember that this is your chance to present every good aspect about yourself may it be in academics, discipline, extracurricular activities, etc.
  • ·         Don’t make your own schedule for the interview. Make yourself available and do not give the interviewer another option for you to be interviewed with.
  • ·         Don’t forget the interviewer’s name, as much as possible, because he might feel insulted when he or she knows it.
  • ·         Do not look so stern or serious. Try to give a pleasant smile upon entering the room.
  • ·         Do not give very simple answers to the questions. If you are asked with a question answerable by yes or no, you need to elaborate your answers.
  • ·         Don’t lie, for crying out loud. Always remember that the college admission counselors will really know it if you are lying to them. Answer each question honestly. 

Fighting Away Stress Regarding College Admission Requirements

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The college admission process gets more tougher and tougher each year so do not be so sure that you can easily find a college that could accept you without second thought because you still need to pass their college admission requirements before you can attend to a particular college or university. By the end of every school year, you can already see the senior students panicking in writing their college application essay, preparing for their other college admission requirements and generally worrying about the entire college admission process especially when they are not really sure if they will be accepted or rejected.

When preparing your college admission requirements, I know you are probably stressed out because of the pressure of not committing any mistakes and simply getting it all perfect. It is more stressful than passing a major exam because this is where you begin to build your dreams. So in order for you to fight away the stress that you experience while preparing your college admission requirements, you must relax and stay focused on the things you need to do. You need to be in control. The college admissions process has the purpose of finding a college that fit you and where you will perform best so you must really do your best in order for you to get into the college of your first choice.

Also, the purpose of the college admission requirements is to showcase who you are so if your requirements speak of how good you are as a student, then it won’t be hard for you to pass the college admission process. You must also keep in mind that not everything in the college admission process is within your control because there are things that are already out of your control. Say for example the size of the talented applicant pool and the particular goals and constraints of each college. Those are actually now within your reach anymore because it belongs to the policy of the school. If you are not included in their standards, move on. There are still a lot of opportunities in other colleges.  

College Tips: Working Your Way Through College Admissions

Entering a college or university is not as easy as paying your tuition and just sit on a class then make your grades and then graduate and get your diploma. At the very beginning of a college admission, you should really go through a major competition. With hundreds of college applicants going through the college application process all at the same time, can you now say to yourself that you are confident enough that you will be accepted to the particular college that you are applying to? Are you sure that based on your grades, your extracurricular activities, your college interview and the result of your college admission test can already help you get your way through the college admission process? You are not that sure, right? So here are some helpful tips for you to work your way through college admissions.

Be prepared. You have the whole four years in high school for you to make your grades good and build a good reputation. Join in some extracurricular activities. Make yourself busy in joining clubs, organizations, and any school groups where you think you fit and belong. Do not waste your time on gimmicks or partying. Also, you need to review for the college admission test because other colleges or universities are very particular with it and they really want to admit college students that are academically equipped. If you don’t have good grades, then making a good college essay can also help you present yourself in a way where you can be known by the college admission counselors as a student who is disciplined, active in extracurricular activities, and has a good attitude. By that way, one can easily work his or her way through any college admissions. 

Effective Tips on How to Get into College

Sunday, November 27, 2011

To be honest with you guys, there is actually no formula for you to assure you’re getting into college or be admitted in the college or university you dreamed. There is no prescribed curriculum, says Marlyn McGrath Lewis, the director of admissions for Harvard College. He says that the general idea for you to get into the college of your choice is to take the most demanding courses that your high school offers because this can help you easily get into college, assuming that you can do well in them. However, you should also consider your limitations because no matter how you force yourself to a particular course yet can’t do better on it, it is still useless.

All you need to do in preparation for your college admission process is to study hard while you are still in high school and establish the college major that you really wanted to take. Spend most of your vacant time in reading, writing, and studying if possible because this can really help you get better, especially when it comes to communication skills. Also, you must work hard and double your effort to get good grades because having a high general average can make you stand out among the rest of the college applicants.

Aside from the academics, another aspect that also needs to be considered is the involvement in extracurricular activities, community public services, etc. A student cannot get into college by grades alone. There are also other requirements like your abilities and other hobbies. Your extracurricular activities are also a big help because this can determine how motivated you are and how you manage your time and still manage to get good grades. You still have a lot of time to build your resume for you to get into college so start as early as possible in your high school. 

How to Choose the Best Topic for a College Essay

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Just like most writers, it is really a dilemma at first before writing any article the topic that you will write about. It is also the same thing with your college application essays. The freshly grad high school students are certainly having hard time of choosing a topic for their college essay because it is one great factor for them to pass the college admission if they have a strong college essay.

The college admission process is very tough. Some students can easily pass it especially if they have good and high grades during high school or if they scored high in the college admission test. However, those who are borderline of either being accepted or rejected from the college or university they are applying to can still have hope of being included on the slot if they have strong and excellent college essay. But what are you going to write about?

When choosing a topic for your college essay, you should consider the things that the college counselors wanted to know about you aside from what is already reflected elsewhere in your application like your personal information, biographical data, etc. Maybe you could write an essay about the person who influenced you or an experience that reflects why you have that kind of personality right now. Another thing, probably you can write about a social, political, or religious issue happening in the society right now that really caught your attention. Or you can also write about a TV or movie character that really reflects how you behave or act in some way or another. These and a lot more interesting and definitely not dull topics can help you, somehow, be admitted in the college or university you wanted to attend to so good luck! 

Say NO to College Failures!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Failing is never really an option. It is a choice! As long as you believe that you have done your best, failures will surely not come. But what if you are being tested and you are placed on the dilemma of either to pass or to fail? What will you do? Just say NO to College Failures and here is what you must do.

Failing is really avoidable if you will just work hard on your studies. You don’t need to be the class valedictorian in high school or an honor student in order for you to pass College. It still requires major effort and dedication to studying your lessons, being present always in class, paying attention to the discussion, and submitting all your requirements and assignments on time.

Always remember that failing a class can be considered a major problem is it is not handled right away. A failed class can create an impact and affect your academic record, and it can also be a reason for you not to graduate in College. It can also affect your self-esteem because you might be ashamed that you failed your class and your classmates passed.  

You must learn how to handle the situation and you must really consider the factors that might affect your performance in class. The most important thing is, in everything that you do, you must keep in mind to put all efforts and hard work to it in order for you to succeed. 

College Tips for Passing a College Admission Test

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

When you first entered the room where you are going to take your college admission test, you have probably said to yourself that “this is it! This is the fulfillment of my dreams and ambitions.” Seeing those faces of the persons in the room makes you think that you have the same thing in mind, and that is the hope for you to pass the exam. Indeed, this is the make or break college admission test and you need to pass it if you wanted to attend in that college and take the college degree that you’ve been dreaming to take. But how? How will you be able to pass the College Admission test? Here are a few tips that might help you.

First, make sure that you have a review or go to a group study, either which is effective for you, before you take the exam. It is better to be prepared in going to a battle than just go there and hope for positive results without working on anything. Being on a group study is a very good tool because this can help you understand and remember ideas, especially when you have a huge moral and emotional support from your friends. Having interactions with your classmates and friends can help you share ideas and better understand a topic or lesson.

Also, you can develop a study habit of your own. It is still helpful for you to find time to study on yr vacant times at home. Using Mnemonics is also an effective tool because this will help you memorize some stuff. Also, try to consider the subjects you are very poor at and focus on these subjects more. Try to relax and unwind sometimes for you to freshen up your mind. Do not take it too seriously that you almost forget to get a break for yourself. Just take it easy and good luck!


A Winning College Experience: Going Through the Battle of Failures

Monday, November 21, 2011

There is a famous saying that states that you cannot taste the sweetness of success if you have not tasted the bitterness of failure. Indeed, you will not learn something new if you have not committed a mistake. But I am not saying that learning only come from mistakes; rather, mistakes always make you learn new things. Success always comes from failure and nobody can claim that he or she has never ever experienced any failure at all.

Even when we were still in College, we have already experienced a lot of failures and some of us ended up being a failure until the end because of easily giving up. College life is filled with a lot of challenges and trials and if you were not able to surpass all of these at first, you will end up being a failure. So how can you avoid it? No one can really help you win this battle against failure but yourself, though you may still need the help of other people, but it basically starts from you. Do not just settle on what your heart or mind tell you; try to listen to other people also, especially those who are more experienced than you like your professors and seniors.

In about a hundred of endeavors that we take, the greater percentage ends in failure. We can’t really tell exactly why we can still succeed despite of the numerous failures. The fact is, there is a tangible line between success and failure. And each person, may it be the college student, to view the line based on his own perception. 

Image taken from fastweb.com

Common Questions Asked in a College Interview

When people are told that they are going to have an interview, their initial reaction is to get anxious as to what might be asked during the interview. Sometimes, this could even affect their personal views and opinion. An interview that most people could not escape is the college interview. You don’t have to underestimate the college interview for being just a requirement in the college admission because this is the first step that you must go through for you to be accepted in the college that you wanted to enroll at. So in order for you to have the confidence in answering those questions, you must know first what the common questions usually asked in a college interview are. So here are the most common questions being asked in a college interview. If you think you can easily answer these questions, then you will have better chance to get into the college you wanted to be enrolled to.

Commonly Asked Questions in a College Interview:

Tell us about yourself.
Tell us about your family.
Why do you want to go to this college or university?
What major do you want to be at and why?
What are your favorite subjects in high school?
What do you expect from this college/ university?
What do you want to do after you graduate?
What are your least favorite classes or subjects?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your expectations from college?
What are your hobbies and interests?
What extra-curricular activities are you in during high school?
What was your biggest achievement in school/life?
How can you be a role model to others?
What can you contribute to the world? 

Common Problems that College Students Face

Friday, November 18, 2011


It is being noticed that once high school students graduate and already step into College, they start to develop different kinds of problems and they have a hard time dealing with it. There is an increasing amount of attention being directed to the shift to an increased level of education being experienced by traditional-age and adult students. It is a movement that incorporates a great deal of stress and challenge. Even though there are those students who consider this shift of the level of education as a challenge to personal growth, other students, on the other hand, are overwhelmed by the changes that are happening and they even experience emotional maladjustment and depression when they can’t really handle the situation. 

Most of the common problems experienced in College start from the adjustment period they develop after graduating from high school. Education in High School is easier compared to the College level. It also depends on the school you are in on what kind of problems you are going to face. This is the real life, this is a new world from what you are used to, this is College! It’s a bigger and wider picture. You tend to face hectic schedules, challenging classes, and less time for gimmicks. There is no more time for sleepovers and hanging out in malls because once you are in College, most of your time will be focused on either studying or doing some paperworks provided by your professors. Sometimes, it’s really mind-aching when all you need to do is to study, study, and study. Grow up dude! This is already College so wake up!

Another common problem that a College student usually faces is being away from home for the first time and trying to get along with your roommates. In the first few days, you will be homesick and you will also feel depressed, especially when you are emotionally weak. Choosing the best major is also a common problem that a college student should consider. A year after, some college students realize that they are not happy anymore about their major and others shift from one to another more often.

There are still a lot of common problems to be mentioned that bothers a College student. These are just normal and they are experienced by many. You don’t have to be worried. All you need to do is to assure yourself that everything is under control. 

Common Causes of Stress In College

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Whether you like it or not, you cannot really avoid experiencing stress in College but on the top of it, at the end of the day, you should cope or surpass all the stressful situations that happen to you in school. Many students know how to deal with stress, but there are those who take it seriously and cannot handle it pretty well.

There are a lot of causes of stress in College, and one of which is of course your “Academic Stress.” Your heavy workload is absolutely unbearable, especially when your schedule of classes is really uptight, and you also have other activities to thing plus the assignments or paperworks given to you by each of your professor in every subject. Noticeably, the workload of College is significantly more involved than the high school workload, given the fact that it also comes with less hand-holding from parents and teachers. You also have your more challenging classes, scheduling issues to deal with, very hard and mind-breaking exams, and other academic tests coming your way.

Another type of stress that is part of your College life is the “Social Stress”. Peer pressure is more significant during this time compared to high school and the most challenging and probably the most stressful part is during the freshman year because it is where the student try to adjust in everything, especially when they face the most obvious social challenges that usually involve leaving one’s entire support structure behind (college friends and classmates, perhaps), creating a new social network, dealing with being away from home for the first time and facing less parental support. This is but normal to some who are used to be independent ever since they stepped in high school, but for those who are not used to it, this is already stressful.

Other possible stress that you might be facing in College is the time management. High school schedule is different from College because in College, you don’t have a fix schedule of your classes and you have so much work to do and so many things to study about. Aside from those, you also need to consider getting up early than the usual and stay up late to study, start to live independently, doing your laundry, preparing food for yourself, etc. These small things can also add to your stress. New students even deal with the struggle of being away from home for the first time and missing home in a few days of staying in the dormitory.

These are the common causes that we have identified that can cause stress in College. You must be prepared for these and must learn how to deal with it. 

Dare to Choose: Picking the Perfect College Major

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Every day, we are being bombarded with choices; choices on what to eat, what clothes to wear, what to say, where to go and what to do. However, after each mind-boggling task, some of us still end up getting frustrated and seem to regret the things we have done while some take things positively to cope up with our wrong decisions in life.

Choosing a college degree is one of the major decisions in life that we cannot escape and we should not neglect. Once you choose a college degree, you should pursue it until the end of your College life because it will determine what kind of job you are qualified to be admitted in after college. I know it is hard to decide on what College degree you must go to, especially when you do not know yet what you want or what you want to be in the end. You need to choose perfectly so that you will not regret in the end and end up in a miserable college life.

If you are really having a hard time in making a decision, you can try to ask your parents what they can advise and maybe they can help you decide. You may also go through the list of “in-demand” jobs on the internet or in the Craigslist. Also, your interests or existing talents and skills might also help you identify which College major you must take. Another thing is for you to go through your grades and check on which subject you excel at. If you’re good in math, then you can choose a major that are business-related. If you’re into Science, then maybe you could prefer a medical course like Nursing, Medicine, etc. 

A Fresh Start: Going Through Your Freshman Year

Tuesday, November 15, 2011


Your College life wouldn’t be perfect if you have not undergone and surpassed your Freshman year. This article intends to gather some opinions on how their Freshman year was and what impact did it bring into their college life. This will guide the upcoming freshmen students on what to expect when the time comes that they already enter College.

The first day of freshmen years mark the beginning of another chapter into a student’s life. This is the time when they gain new sets of friends, new line of classmates, stricter and more serious professors, and a whole new environment to complete the scenario. Being a freshman is not that easy. It is like wandering across a vast ocean without knowing where you are heading. The only thing that you hold on is a dream and a desire to be able to excel somehow in your chosen field to finish. A day of expectations to some, and a day of hope to many.

Here are some of the most common convictions and sentiments of the freshmen students as to what they feel being a freshman:

·                   Interesting, because all things are coming unexpectedly.”

·         “There would always be pressure, but the word fun and camaraderie from other levels and the professors make us feel welcomed.”

·         It is very exciting because every step of the way is always a surprise. You always have to be emotionally and mentally prepared.”

·               “Freshman year is an adjustment stage; a period of discovering one’s talents and abilities.”

There you have it! Most of them are actually good and positive feedbacks so you don’t have to be afraid to enter your college. It’s just a matter of having fun and starting your college life right by making the most out of your freshman year. 

Do Study Habits Make Good Grades?

Monday, November 14, 2011


Ever since the world began, our perception of having good grades is through the result of working hard or studying hard rather. Do you really believe that a good study habit can make good grades? Of course, having a good study habit really pays, but a certain research study reveals that there are no relationship between the study habits of students and their academic performance.

Have you noticed? There are some students who have no study habits at all but still, they are able to have, if not high grades, average marks. These are the people who have the potential to excel if they will just exert more effort. In short, they are born intelligent so they will need less effort in burning their midnight candles. Y just listening to the lessons that their professor is discussing or simply being present during class hours, a person can already make good grades because of remembering and understanding thoroughly his or her lessons. But I am not saying that these people do not need to study anymore because admit it or not, it really helps when we try to recall al our lessons through reading our notes because not all that we have digested while listening to our lessons are a hundred percent retained in our brains. You still need to refresh your minds to prepare for the tests in school such as the written exams.