Guide to College

1. Guide to College August 9, 2009 AHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHH

2. Table of Contents • Meet Your Speakers • Academics – Junior and Senior Years • SAT and SAT II • Extracurricular Activities • College Applications

3. Meet your Speakers • Lydia Chow • Connie Ho • Steven Hu • Jennifer Zhu

4. Lydia Chow • Attending Duke University • Undeclared, considering pre-med

5. Connie Ho • Attending University of Pennsylvania (accepted early decision) • Undeclared in engineering, planning on majoring in Bioengineering and minoring in computer science

6. Steven Hu • Attending University of California, Berkeley • Undeclared, considering pre-business

7. Jennifer Zhu • Attending Harvard College • Planning on concentrating in Economics, minoring in law, government, or international relations • Call her The Boss, ask questions later. • No autographs, please.

8. Academics – Junior Year

9. Academics – Junior Year • Junior Year Stress = • Studying for SATs • Studying for AP classes • Taking SATs • Taking AP exams • Figuring who to go to Junior Prom with

10. Advice for Junior Year • Don’t screw up your GPA • All-nighters = BAD IDEA • Study smart • Get to know your teachers • *cough* letters of rec *cough*

11. Academics – Senior Year • Senior Year Stress = • Filling out college applications • Getting Letters of Recommendation • Applying for financial aid • Looking for scholarships • Preparing for college interviews • Avoid catching senioritis

12. Advice for Senior Year • AP classes – check the AP credit policies for the colleges you are considering before signing up for AP exams in your senior year • Enjoy sleep while you can (don’t be like Connie) • Procrastinate later = DON’T SLACK OFF • Keep up your workload

13. SAT I and SAT II • If you are a senior and have not taken your SATs yet… YOU ARE DOOMED. • If you are a junior, pay attention: • Start early – STUDY! • practice tests in prep books (10 Real SATs, blue Collegeboard book, Princeton, Barron’s, Kaplan, etc.)

14. SAT I • Plan to take the October SAT I beginning of Junior year; this way, you can retake it if you are unhappy with your score • PSAT in Sophomore year as practice • Practice writing 25-minute essays • Think like the test-makers • Do PRACTICE TESTS over and over to get a feel for the test

15. SAT II • Check the colleges you are considering for their SAT II requirements – more require 2 (some ask for 3, many specify subject areas) • Subject test categories: • Math (most colleges only accept Level 2) • Chinese (use this as a back-up, not as one of your main 2) • Science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) • Foreign Language • History (U.S. History, World History) • Take the test after you take the class!

16. SAT Prep Classes • One option: SAT prep classes over the summer • Prep centers emphasize repetition – practice tests and essays (for SAT I) assigned each week • Save money and skip out on classes if you have the self-discipline to set your own study schedule • Popular SAT prep centers: • Best SAT Review • FLEX • Elite

17. Extracurricular Activities • Quality over quantity • Find what you are interested in and pursue it • School clubs (KEY Club, CSF, Red Cross) • Sports teams • School organizations (S/D, journalism, ASB) • Music (instruments, orchestra) • Outside organizations (Boy Scouts, hospital volunteer, internships, community service) • Don’t quit an activity in junior/senior year – colleges like persistence (especially in sports)

18. College Applications • Out-of-state/Privates • UC/CSU • Community College • UC Application period: November 1 – 30 • Most privates use the Common Application • Commonapp.org • Check each college’s website for requirements – some have specific applications or supplements • Early Action/Early Decision

19. Advice on College Applications • Consider applying to a college EA/ED • Check which colleges offer what • If you are unsure, find a college that accepts EA (non-binding) • If you have a solid first choice, check if it accepts ED (smaller pool of applicants to compete against, but may also be tougher) • EA – make changes on your application for regular depending on acceptance/rejection • Don’t be discouraged if you are deferred/rejected; use this as a learning experience! (or a punching bag)

20. Advice on College Applications • College Confidential • Online forum • Use this wisely • Some helpful advice (best prep books, college information) • Some useless information (made-up stats, “chances” that discourage you – just wait for colleges’ decisions, not other students) • Safety, Target, and Reach schools • Be reasonable when applying • Have back-ups – you never know what can happen

21. Advice on College Applications • College Interviews • “I applied to this school because my mother made me” is not a proper answer • Research each school – know why you want to go to the school, specific programs, etc. • If they ask you what schools you’re applying to, take out reach schools • Show up early • Dress formally • Don’t be intimated by the interviewer or other interviewees • Google your interviewer beforehand • Just keep talking - Work your strong points into your answers • Don’t be nervous – interviews won’t make or break your application; many are more informative than evaluative

22. College Applications • UC Essays • 1000 words total • Suggested minimum: 250 words • Prompt #1 • Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. • Prompt #2 • Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

23. College Applications • Essays • Avoid cliches • Be succinct – just because Common App doesn’t have a word limit doesn’t mean admissions officers want to read pages and pages • Try to be original - everyone has a unique story to tell • Start early (start thinking of potential topics and begin writing end of junior year and summer before senior year) • Edit, revise, proofread! • Have peers, friends, older students, teachers, and adults read and offer comments • Don’t copy or buy essays

24. College Applications • Letters of Recommendation • Ask teachers at the end of junior year • Make sure to ask teachers you actually had, and preferably ones who know you and like you • Many teachers will only write a certain number of recs each year – ask early! • Talk to the teachers writing you recs often so they know who you are • Constantly follow up and remind them of deadlines • Keep them updated on what you do and do not get into • Thank them afterwards! Write them a thank-you card or letter and give them a small gift

25. College Application • Letters of Recommendation • If you know them well enough, tell them what you want in your rec (esp. important extracurriculars, defining moments or best essays/work in their class) • Make sure you follow Ms. Albers’ instructions on rec packets • Get this done early and to your teacher ASAP so they have enough time to write your recs • Ask preferably at least one english teacher (they tend to write better recs)

26. College Applications • Procedure • Common Application

32. In the words of the great Ms. Albers… “I don’t care where you go; I just care that you go.”