A few good tips from Twice the College Advice. Additionally, I suggest having a professional (or at least your parent) review the document. Many parents, if not recently, have at some point had to create, update and edit a resume of their own – so getting their input would be helpful. If including a resume with your college application, you have to be sure that it not only matches, but supports the activities and experiences you have included in the Common Application. Many adcom look to the resume (or activity sheet) for supplemental information on what can only be listed briefly in the application – so this is important. Use the resume to your advantage and make it work for, not against you!
Admissions Factors: What Matters, What Doesn’t
In conducting the survey, NACAC asked schools to rate what admission factors were of “considerable importance.” Here is the percentage of schools that placed the highest value on these factors:
- Grades in college prep courses 83.4%
- Strength of curriculum 65.7%
- SAT or ACT scores 59.3%
- Grades in all courses 46.2%
- Essay or writing sample 26.6%
- Student’s demonstrated interest in the college 23.0%
- Class rank 21.8%
- Counselor recommendation 19.4%
- Teacher recommendation 19.0%
- Subject test score (AP, IB) 9.6%
- Interview 9.2%
- Extracurricular activities 7.4%
- Student portfolio 5.9%
- SAT II subject test scores 5.3%
- State graduation exam scores 4.2%
- Work 1.9%
Equally helpful is what percentage of schools said the following admission factors were of “no importance.”
- SAT II subject test scores 58.0%
- State graduation exam scores 53.4%
- Portfolio 48.2%
- Interview 35.2%
- Work 30.6%
- Subject test scores (AP, IB) 25.3%
- Student’s demonstrated interest in school 19.5%
- Essay or writing sample 17.6%
- Extracurricular activities 15.2%
- Class rank 15.0%
- Counselor recommendation 12.4%
- Teacher recommendation 12.3%
- SAT and ACT scores 4.3%
- Strength of curriculum 3.9%
- Grades in all courses 1.6%
- Grades in college prep classes 1.6%
Supplemental Essays Over SAT/ACT Scores
There is much more to an applicant’s admission profile than their standardized test scores. Though most schools do require either SAT or ACT scores be submitted, there are a number that are no longer requiring them (yet many still do submit), and an even greater number that are placing less emphasis on this aspect of student’s application.
According to Jim Miller, president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, hundreds of schools have gone test optional successfully. He doesn’t see a day, though, where the majority of schools won’t require a standardized score. “I think the folks that have done it have felt tests can be one tool with which to assess students, but that it’s not the best tool for all students,” Miller said. Other tools include admission essays and interviews, internship and work experience during high school, the breadth and depth of extracurriculars, and most predictive of student success in college, GPA.
Read this article to learn more about how one Chicago school has now gone SAT/ACT requirement free.
Why Internships?
An Internship….
Offers you a chance to learn and discover different elements that may interest you in any area. It can also be the deciding factor that best predicts if this field is something you would really be interested in pursuing as a future career choice.
Career Competitive Edge
With today’s job market being highly competitive, you will need to make yourself stand out amongst the rest. Students who have completed internships obtain employment more quickly following graduation. It also looks great on your resume! Although you may occasionally have to make coffee or file papers, an internship is a great opportunity to gain real world experience and to get your foot in the door.
“Since I don’t know what I want to do as a career, I won’t know what internships I want.”
An internship helps assists in your career decision. Regardless of which internship you choose, it is a great opportunity to find out about what you want to do in your career in terms of interest. You may discover a new interest through an internship experience.
Career Exploration and Decision-Making
Internships offer you a chance to learn and discover. You will never buy a car without a test drive first, right? Then you will never know if a particular career is right for you until you take it for a test drive. You may find out that your dream job really isn’t what you expected. You may even discover a new interest you never knew you had.
Networking and Professional Connections
Did you know that 80% of the jobs available out there are NOT advertised? Your internship can provide a great environment for you to find a Mentor who can help you learn about your field of interest based on his/her own experiences and professional connections. Take the time, when appropriate, to ask the professionals at your internship site questions about their job responsibilities and their career journey. In addition, if you take your internship seriously, are reliable, and perform your job well, you increase your chances of receiving outstanding professional references for future employers. Plus, due to the professional relations/rapport you have built, you could be personally recommended for upcoming job opportunities in the department you are currently working in or elsewhere in or outside of your internship site.
Remember, your internship site is place where you can expand the network of people you know – the bigger your network, the more success you can have in your future career – Its not just what you know, its who you know!
Source: http://www.career.sunysb.edu/content/students/what-are-benefits-internship%3F
B. Maschal Educational Consulting 