Survival Tips for Freshers' week

Moving in and meeting new people

• It’s likely you’ll be pretty busy during your first week, so get there a few days early so you have time to unpack and settle into your new digs.

• Leave your door open while you unpack your stuff – this is a welcoming gesture and people are more likely to stop by and say hello.

• Get something to use as a doorstop to help with the above - a sign with your name on the door is also good, too.

• As soon as you have met one person, go around with them and knock on everyone else’s door in your block. Hopefully you will be less nervous in a pair and then you can meet quite a few people by going around together.

• Make up your bed as soon as you arrive – this means you can take a rest when you get tired of unpacking and introducing yourself to lots of people.

• Make your room more homey by putting up some posters on the walls.

• Bringing a tin of cakes, cookies or chocolate bars will attract people to knocking on your door instantly!

• Don’t be afraid to start up random conversations with people you just happen to be standing next to while waiting for something – that is how you make your new friends. Chances are, they're just as nervous as you and will welcome the chance to have a conversation without having to start it themselves!

• Get your computer set up so you can put some music on – people will hear it, and talking about favourite songs and bands is always an ice breaker!

• Smiling a lot will make you seem more approachable!

• Try not to worry if everyone isn’t as friendly as you are – it’s likely you won’t get on with everyone you live with. You’re bound to make lots of friends outside of halls so you don’t have to feel like a social outcast!

• Try to go to as many social events as possible. It may be a little tiring, and you're unlikely to remember everyone later, but the more people you meet now, the more you will bump into other people you will recognise and can chat with later on.

• Don't stop talking to random people after freshers' week - keep it up and that way you will carry on meeting new people. As people settle in to the university, they will become more relaxed and not so concerned about keeping up their 'friend-making' behaviour.

Finding out more about your university

• Many universities publish Freshers' Week schedules on their websites or on the Students' Union website. Finding out what’s happening in advance might give you a heads up on what you’ll need for partying the night away!

Socialising

• Make sure you take some cash with you when you first go to the bar - there may not be a cash point nearby.

• Save a few taxi company numbers to your mobile, in case you have no other way of getting back to campus.

• Going out is always a daunting experience for a fresher, as it’s the first time you’ll be going out with different people and meeting more new ones. Hopefully you’ll feel more comfortable once you’ve been out to the bar a few times, and downing a few drinks is certain to help the situation!

• Students in their 2nd and 3rd years will be able to help popint you in the right direction of the best places to hang out. They are also usually the people who are selling tickets for the evening events.

• You will be able to find out about events at your Student Union or you may be able to sign up for email alerts about what's happening around the university.

• Get your tickets early for popular events, as they will sell out quickly and you don’t want to be disappointed!

• For the girls – it’s a good idea to take a pair flat shoes with you whenever you go out. If your high heels start killing your feet (or you are too drunk to walk properly in them!), you will be glad of them.

• If you're off to London, or your Uni is in London, make sure you've got enough credit on your Oyster card before you set off. You don’t want to be queuing for ages at the machine during your night out!

Budgeting

• Don’t sign up for everything at the Freshers’ Fair if they want you to pay up straight away. Put your name down, but think about it first before making any payment.

• Draw up a budget for Freshers’ week. A lot of new students spend too much on alcohol, which means they don't have much cash left over for other activities or for further on in the year. You will find planning ahead will help you in the long term!

• Put on an extra layer of clothes or two during cold days and nights, so you don't need to crank the heating up too high. A hot water bottle is a worthy investment!

Food

• Club together with your roommates so you can buy in staple food such as rice, pasta and noodles in bulk or large quantities at least.

• It’s also worth buying a selection of store cupboard essentials like salt, pepper, herbs, spices, cuppa soups, and other dried foods you use on a regular basis.

• Try to keep some tins of beans, tomatoes, soup and similar foods in case you run out of everything else.

• Eating together as a group can be useful too. For example, if you have a curry or pizza evening, and take turns with your roommates to host it. This means you can rely on at least one of your friends providing dinner at some point during the week!

• During the winter months, you can take it in turns to spend the evening in each others rooms so that you're not heating rooms for just one or two people. You can take turns to have a TV or movie evening in. Even if it’s only once or twice a week and you keep a rota for it, the savings on food and fuel could be quite big.

• Cook more than you need and freeze some for another day – this saves on the fuel you use for cooking.

• Invest in a decent set of sauce pans – cheap ones will only last you so long!

• If your home is quite close to your university, and you're worried about your standard of cooking, you could ask your parents nicely to cook something, then store it in a suitable container(s) and freeze back at uni. You can then defrost it when you feel you need a decent, wholesome meal!

• Doing your grocery shopping online will help you save both time and money. You are more likely to just buy what you need and are subsequently less likely to buy every item or special offer that catches your eye. The delivery cost is usually quite reasonable these days, and you can always order with another roommate if you are concerned about the cost. You’ll be surprised at the amount of money you will save. Shopping online also means you don’t have to cart heavy shopping bags back from the supermarket!

Staying safe

• Always let people know where you are going and who with.

• Ask a friend call you at a certain time to check you're all right if you are out alone or with someone you don't know very well.

• Put at least one person on speed dial in case of emergencies.

• Never, ever leave your drinks unattended at any time.

• If you expect you might have a bit of a wild night, be sure to carry a condom or two 'just in case' anything happens – this applies to both boys and girls! You can get them for free from many health centres and Brook clinics.

• Register with a GP and dentist as soon as you can.

• Make sure to keep both your GP and dentist phone number handy so you can easily find it in case you become unwell or get toothache.

Don’t forget...

• Wear a pair of comfy shoes for the registration meetings, as it’s likely you will be queuing for quite a while.

• Remember to take things like pens and your diary with you to registration, as well as the Freshers' Fair if there is one - it'll help you to keep track of what you've signed up for, and you’ll be able to jot down email addresses, websites and any other useful information.

• Be prepared to queue all day in order give a piece of paper to someone and then get your photo taken!

• Always make sure you carry the correct paperwork and identification to all the registration events, and always make sure you are in the right queue – it will save you time later!

 

The Top 10 Skills That'll Get You a Job

With so many graduates now on the market, employers will look for evidence of skills and work experience which will make you stand out from the crowd. Start gathering them now, so you are ready to impress recruiters.

 

Graduate employers place a lot of emphasis on finding candidates with the right skills and competences for their organisations. Depending on the sector and profession you choose to work in, there could be very specific skills, abilities and knowledge needed to do the job. However, complementing these are general competences and behaviours that are essential for successful working. These are often overlooked by candidates, but they are the things recruitment professionals want to see evidence of.

1. Commercial awareness (or business acumen): This is about knowing how a business or industry works and what makes a company tick. Showing that you have an understanding of what the organisation wants to achieve through its products and services, and how it competes in its marketplace.


2. Communication: This covers verbal and written communication, and listening. It's about being clear, concise and focused; being able to tailor your message for the audience and listening to the views of others.


3. Teamwork: You'll need to prove that you're a team player but also have the ability to manage and delegate to others and take on responsibility. It's about building positive working relationships that help everyone to achieve postive goals and business objectives.


4. Negotiation and persuasion: This is about being able to put forward your way, but also being able to understand where the other person is coming from so that you can both get what you want or need and feel positive about it.


5. Problem solving: You need to display an ability to take a logical and analytical approach to solving problems and resolving issues. It's also good to show that you can approach problems from different angles.


6. Leadership: You may not be a manager straight away, but graduates need to show potential to motivate teams and other colleagues that may work for them. It's about assigning and delegating tasks well, setting deadlines and leading by good example.


7. Organisation: This is about showing that you can prioritise, work efficiently and productively, and manage your time well. It's also good to be able to show employers how you decide what is important to focus on and get done, and how you go about meeting deadlines.


8. Perseverance and motivation: Employers want people to have a bit of get-up-and-go. Working life presents many challenges and you need to show employers that you're the kind of person who will find a way through, even when the going gets tough... and stay cheerful-ish.


9. Ability to work under pressure: This is about keeping calm in a crisis and not becoming too overwhelmed or stressed.


10. Confidence: In the workplace you need to strike the balance of being confident in yourself but not arrogant, but also have confidence in your colleagues and the company you work for.

There are certain words which are key to catching an employer's interest. Mention them in your CV and at interviews and see how impressed they are with your business-speak (but don't go overboard or you'll sound daft).

• initiative


• dynamic


• teamplayer


• proactive


• self-motivated

You can also talk in terms of actions that you achieve through your skills by using good, strong verbs in applications and interviews:

• led


• achieved


• completed


• co-ordinated


• delegated


• delivered


• identified


• presented


• promoted


• reported


• resolved


• organised

• Make the most of university life and extra-curricular activities to develop your general skills.


• Plan early to get relevant work experience and voluntary work which will give you transferables that will make you work ready: have something lined up for each vacation, and get ready for formal placement and internship applications at the beginning of your second year.


• Religiously record the skills you gain and work experience activities you do so that you can pull out good examples on applications and in interviews.


• Network! Use family, friends and contacts to get work experience and to find out more about career areas that interest you.


• Visit your university's careers service: find out whether it runs any employability skills sessions; sign up for relevant courses and workshops; get help from a careers adviser to write a CV that really showcases your competences and abilities.


• Take advantage of careers fairs and employer presentations: talk direct to recruiters to find out what they look for.


• Always do your homework before applying for jobs. Employer research will help you identify the skills and competences a particular organisation places most emphasis on. In turn, you can tailor your application so that it stands out

 

11 Ways of Making Quick Cash @ University

Ideas to help you seek out opportunities to earn money quickly, whether you need yo fund a cheap night out, or you're saving to fund a holiday, gap year or accommodation deposit.

With deposits for accommodation and travel costs for trips home in the holidays taking their toll on bank balances, many students end up strapped for cash at different points in the year.

Sure, summer jobs and internships can provide a solid source of income, but here are some options and ideas for earning some ready money, fast – and you'll add some extra work experience oomph to your CV at the same time.

Shop for jobs locally

First of all, check out your university jobshop. These invaluable resources are usually attached to the careers service (or sometimes, the Students' Union) and offer a whole host of temporary, ad hoc or part-time work, typically with local employers.

Most jobshops have a website where you can search for vacancies and they may also have a regular newsletter that you can sign up to, to keep you informed about the latest vacancies. Even if you’re not in the market for work now, find out where your university's jobshop is in case money gets tight in future. Also, although job vacancies advertised here would expect you to have very little work experience, its always helpful to brush up on job interview skills in case competition is stiff from other cash-strapped students.

Even if you’re not in the market for work now, find out where your university's jobshop is in case money gets tight in future.

If you have more time to spare and can make a regular commitment, check local pubs, clubs and shops for spare shifts. Nursing homes and residential centres are often in need of staff too, which is excellent experience for those looking to go into careers in social care or the healthcare professions.

Find work on campus - take part in research studies or help out with admin duties

Keep your eyes open as you wander around campus too. Notice boards in corridors can hide a whole host of job opportunities.

Psychology departments often look for human 'guinea pigs' to help test out theories and experiments. You might have to commit a bit of time and make a return visit or two but it's often easy money for little effort – particularly if you have a department that runs sleep experiments! Similarly, other science departments such as food or sports may be on the lookout for volunteers.

The admin department of your university could be a good bet. Jobs can come up at times when they’re stretched, involving tasks such as data entry, envelope filling and mailing out of prospectuses. The alumni association is also worth a try as they sometimes require current students to make calls to graduates to solicit donations to the university. These are great opportunities to develop your office admin and telephone skills, which are employer-friendly additions to your CV.

You could approach the Student Union. They may take on students to help with promoting events at the union, posting flyers and sticking up posters around campus. Sometimes these roles will be paid; at other times you’ll be offered free tickets, which, if you were planning to go along anyway, can save you a fair bit of cash.

Sell your knowledge and English skills: try tutoring

If your English skills are up to par, you could always offer your services proofreading essays for international students for a small fee. On a similar note, you could consider tutoring your degree subject to GCSE and A level students. This can also help you in revising and explaining the basics of your subject area: handy if exams are fast approaching, and also good for graduate jobs interviews where a good understanding of the fundamentals of your subject can go a long way.

Market research and sales

Participate in market research. You may come across the occasional opportunity on campus but the internet is the place to go to find opportunities. As with anything online, take some care to make sure it’s genuine. A quick internet search can prevent you from getting burned – there are plenty of forums and discussion boards where you can find out if the opportunity really is too good to be true.

For something longer term, you could always consider becoming a sales rep for a catalogue company, running ‘parties’ for Avon, Virgin Vie or even Ann Summers! However, these often require initial outlay and you should bear in mind that if you’re hard up it’s likely that your friends and peers will be too and they won’t fork out for your merchandise.

If you’re artistic or crafty you could always try selling your wares; either on campus (get permission first!), at local markets, or via online trading sites such as ebay or etsy.com. Check out our article on making money from the comfort of your home or tips for budding entrepreneurs. If you’re not so blessed with talent, flogging some of your unwanted possessions could be a good stop-gap measure.

Guide to UCAS Personal Statement

For a university application to the UK, this is seen by many as the most important part of the application form and as such should be taken very seriously. It could make the difference between getting a place at university of your choice or not.

General Know-How

• It’s recommended that you prepare your personal statement offline using Word.


• If you enter your personal statement directly into ‘Apply’ you must save as you go along as it ‘times out’ after 60 minutes of inactivity


• You can enter up to 4,000 characters, including spaces (up to 47 lines of text)


• When you save the text, the system will automatically tell you how many characters you have left.


• Only write things that you are prepared to talk about at an interview - less of a problem for overseas applicants (except for Oxbridge and Medicine), but you should always aim to write about something you actually know. Minimize making up achievements and books you have read as ignorance is easy to come through.


• Don't repeat material already on the application form. Similarly, show your personal statement to the teacher writing your reference regularly so that there is minimal overlap.


• You need to sell yourself. Admissions tutors are looking for well-rounded individuals, people with a real interest and motivation in the course they are applying for.


• Once you have completed your statement, show it to someone who knows you well and let a teacher and/or graduate mentor see it too.

The structure of your personal statement

It’s a good idea to think about your personal statement in terms of the following sections:

• What you want to study at university and why - Why do you enjoy the subject? Which parts of the subject are of particular interest to you and why? Which parts of the subject would you like to study at university and why? (You have a choice of modules on most courses). Where did your interest in this subject come from? How has any relevant work experience helped you to decide on a particular subject? Where you hope a degree in this subject will lead? What particular subject related skills do you have?

• How your A levels relate to your chosen degree - How are the subjects you are currently studying fit into your chosen course?  Is there any aspect of the course that you have a particular interest in? (Did you enjoy doing a particular piece of course work or project?) Do you have a part-time job, or have been involved in any charity or community work? Have you helped with school events or open days? (Experiences that show you are a reliable and responsible person) Have you gained any awards or been on any relevant events, for example, Duke of Edinburgh, Summer School or Young Enterprise?

• Experiences that show you are a reliable and responsible person


• Write about your career aims - This applies if you have a particular career aim (e.g. nursing, teaching, law...). Why do you want to become a _______? What skills and qualities do you have which will make you suitable for your chosen career?

• Your interests and skills - try and show what you learnt and any attributes the activities highlight instead of listing them. For example, you could incorporate attributes and skills universities look for like:

Practical	Problem solving	Caring	Enthusiastic
Teamwork	Good communicator	Using own initiative	Work under pressure
Self motivated	Working to deadlines	Organisation	Leadership
Self-expression	Computer literate	Artistic/ creative	Individual thought/ ideas

Try to find some evidence for some of the skills and qualities. Don’t worry if you don’t have them all, three or four with plenty of evidence will be a good start. For example, you could combine your work experience at a restaurant with being a good communicator:

Working in a café, I have to communicate effectively with the general public. Even at very busy times and when under pressure I have to remain calm and professional with customers.

Writing about your hobbies and interests may be harder, but not impossible. Travelling to a wide variety of places may have given you the opportunity to meet people from a range of cultures and exposed yourself to a range of cultures and traditions.

 

 

UCAS timeline

15^th October

Closing date for applications to Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine or veterinary science.  If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, you must also fill in the university’s own application form.  Once completed the form must be sent direct to the university by the date shown above.



15^th January

Closing date for all applications

13^th March

Start of ‘Extra’

20^th September

Last date for Clearing applications



End of September…Enjoy your time at University

Get your applications in between 1^st September and 15^th January (although it’s important to try and get it in before you break up for Christmas). Applications will be stamped ‘late entry’ if it arrives in after January 15th. The sooner you submit your application the better!

Other articles you might also be interested in:

Guide to completing your UCAS application

How to write your personal statement

Guide to Completing Your UCAS Form Online

to make the process less painful...

First Things First.

• Make a note of your username and password

• Keep all information about courses/ applying/ personal statement together in a folder


• Be careful with basic info like DOB; don’t say 01/09/06!


• If you were born in the UK, there’s is no need to put in ‘date of first entry to UK’


• Keep the dates of the deadlines someplace where you can always see them - it's easy to let time fly by and be forced to rush your final application.

Research the Courses and Universities you’re interested in

• College/University prospectuses, find these in the study area.


• UCAS website: www.ucas.co.uk


• Aim higher website www.aimhigher.ac.uk or www.ahgtm.ac.uk


• UCAS Directory – all courses and codes for all universities are listed here. I personally don't feel that searching for courses on the UCAS site is as useful as actually visiting the websites of the universities you are interested in


• UCAS ‘The Big Guide’


• University websites, the local Universities are on handout K3

How to decide which is the right course for you?

• Find out what is the course is about and what it entails.


• Does it reflect your area of interest and suit your style of learning?


• What are the prospects at the end of it? Where do the students go? What jobs did they get? Believe it or not, in 3/ 4 years time, applying for UCAS seems a breeze to looking for a job!


• Do most students go on to do post-graduate courses?


• You are entirely entitled to ask questions - make the most out of contacting admissions officers about any issues you have when researchin


• And once again, check out the content of the course before writing your personal statement!

Reference

Once you confirmed your choice, ask your teacher to write a reference for you as soon as possible - your teachers probably already have a lot on their minds and other things to do besides your reference. Reminding them not only ensures that you'll get your application done as soon as possible, but also show them that you are a committed and responsible student.

Write your personal statement

Other useful information

• You can apply for more than one course at the same institution but make sure that your personal statement is relevant for all the courses you are applying for. Converse to popular belief, applying to 2 courses you really love in the same university in some cases makes it clear to admissions officers that you rally want to study there.


• The uni’s that you apply for will not know about your other choices


• List the courses you are applying for in alphabetical order, not in your order of preference.

Before submitting your final application

• Have you filled in all sections of the application form?


• ‘Additional information’ will be deleted later and will not be sent to the HE institution or university so will not bias your application in any way

Offers

Offers may start to come through as soon as 2 weeks after you’ve sent off your UCAS form.  But don’t worry if you don’t get replies straight away.  Most students applying through UCAS normally have to wait about a month before they start getting offers back, and they normally stop sending replies around May.

Once you have received replies from all the Universities you’ve applied to you then need to choose your best 2, your first choice and your insurance choice (just in case you don’t get the grades for your first choice).  Send this back to UCAS who will let the universities know your choices - it is extremely important to keep all letters from UCAS and to reply to them otherwise you could lose your place.

Making Money at Home

Working from home is rewarding

Working from home has many great perks, and you can be successful with the right skills. Many of my friends worked from home after they graduated; and some even made 6 figure earnings in USD whilst still in highschool. Of course, there pros and cons from working from home; however, the good outweighs the bad if you can be self motivated and disciplined. Of course, it always help if you have a genuine interest in what you're doing. If you already work from home, listen up for more opportunities down the page.

Benefits

• Flexible schedule – since many home-based jobs can be done on the Internet, you can work 24/7, or whenever you want. No shifts. No rigid lunch breaks. No dreaded early-morning wake-ups after a long weekend.


• More family time – Many moms like being available to their children and are joining the ranks of working at home everyday. Nevertheless, whoever you are, you would find that the extra time saved (from unnecessary transport time/ procrastination from boredom of sitting at a cubicle all day etc.) will be of much you to your new job & social life.


• Financial rewards – Studies show that Independent Contractors are staying on their jobs longer these days than traditional employment. You have equal and greater opportunities to earn a higher income working from home.


• Greater fulfillment – Many people that work from home do work that is more meaningful to them and society. It makes sense that people who are disciplined enough to work at home do work that brings them great personal satisfaction. Case and case again, we have heard of people who became very successful - gaining many opportunities they had never dreamed of - all in the comfort of their own home.


• Broader reach – You will find that your audience is global. You get opportunities to work with people from all parts of the world. Such is the phenomena of the internet.

7 Things you need to be successful

1. Independent – Working from home requires you to work with little or no supervision. You must be an independent worker and thinker – able to think on your feet. Be a self-taught learner.


2. Excellent communication skills – Working from homes means working remotely. Your should be good with email and following up with what you have proposed to others. You have to write clear and concise information and instruction to your readers.


3. Discipline – You should be able to meet deadlines and stick to a schedule and system that you can fulfill. Having integrity will help create the discipline you need.


4. Self-Motivated – Working from home can get lonely, and you have to be able to motivate yourself. There is no group of people that you see, shake hands with, or give a high-five for job well done. You’ll have to be your own best cheerleader.


5. Computer skills – Technology is your link to the outside world, and you need to be connected. Learn to use the Internet, email, and Microsoft Word will make life easier for you.


6. Competitive – I say competitive because, you need drive. The person you are competing against is yourself. You want to be able to outdo yourself.


7. Passion – As mentioned, it is the key that drives you to do what you do. Passion is the strong desire give of yourself. Passion will keep you going when you need it most.

Jobs you can do from home

Some suggestions

• Customer Service – Listening and solving problems for people. You work in a quiet place with your headset on and help resolve issues customers have.


• Editor – Chief individual over copy for magazines, newspapers, books and information provided to readers. You could set up your own virtual magazine online for a minimal start-up cost; conversely, build up experience in the industry first before branching out in entrepreneurship.


• Field Interviewer – Interview individuals face-to-face and over the phone to collect data about a specific subject. You work from home and go into the community.


• Freelance Writer – One who writes original content on various topics and publishes it for the public. Start with writing about things that you have an interest about and know quite a lot about - those are the easiest - and tend to reap better results. Quality is always over quantity. Build enough of a following on a variety of publications, and you'll be getting requests for guest articles/ posts which are more lucrative.


• Publisher – One who takes written content and turns it into final copy, such a book or magazine and makes it available to the public for sale.


• Mystery Shopper – My favourite, this really is a job. Many companies want you to test their products or evaluate the companies who sell their products. You go into these companies “undercover” so to speak. You act like a real customer, and play the role as an evaluator.

Ca$h to expect

Most home-based employers allow you to work up to 40 hours per week, and many offer part-time. You can choose what is best for your schedule. In many cases, home-based workers have the option to work more or less than they want. Early on, the pay may seem low, but in the long run you can earn more. Benefits and bonuses are rewards that you can aspect and appreciate from working at home. Salaries vary and are unlimited.

Best of all - you are in control of your work schedule :)

I don't know what to study at the University! How can I find out what subject I would like to study?

- Don't know what subjects you would like?

- Don't know what jobs suits you? Or what you want to become in the future?

- Want quizzes/ tests to try to pinpoint your direction?

Try http://www.ucas.ac.uk/students/beforeyouapply/whattostudy/stamfordtest
Just click on 'start the test' and you needn't even fill in your details.
It's absolutely great!
It offers you a wide range of choices depending on the answers you have given.
You might come across to courses that you probably didn’t even think about yet are rather suited to.
I tried it out myself and it was spot on!
Good luck in course hunting!

Life After Highschool

"So, what are you doing after graduation?" I get bored answering that question over and over. Whether your plans include college, heading straight for the workforce, or taking a year off, here are some practical tips to prepare yourself for the journey.

[Note: This is targeting those in the US or applying to colleges in the US, but would be equally relevant to those you want to be more educated about the entire process.]

Going to College

Some people know from an early age exactly what they want to be and how they plan to get there. Rachel's dad is a doctor and his love for his chosen career inspired her to follow in his footsteps. Rachel, who is about to start medical school, said she chose her undergraduate program with the idea of medical school in mind.

Not all of us are so sure of our plans, though, and that's OK too. Many people start off in a liberal arts program in college and then decide on a major after a year or two. (School counselors say that 75% of students change their majors after they enter college.) School is also not just about careers and getting a high-paying job after graduation — it's a place for learning about yourself and the world.

Selecting a School

If college is in your future, you need to plan. Which schools appeal to you? How are you going to pay for your education?

How do you decide on a school when there are thousands to pick from? Start by asking yourself questions about your preferences:

• What are my strengths?


• Am I interested in liberal arts or science or business?


• What kind of learning environment is best for me?


• Would I be more comfortable in a small school or would I feel confined?


• Do I want to stay close to home or live far away?


• Would I prefer to be in a city environment or a small college town?


• Should I go to a school where athletics are big or where fraternities or sororities rule?


• Do I like being with people who are mostly like me or do I want to meet a diverse group?

Ask friends and older siblings who are in college about their schools and about other schools they're familiar with. Talk to your school counselor or one of your teachers and go to college fairs when they visit your town.

Once you've narrowed down your choices, ask the schools to send you literature. Visit their websites. When you've whittled your list down to a manageable number, make arrangements to visit. Try to do this when school is in session so you can get a good idea of what life is really like on campus.

And remember: You're not the only one making a decision. Schools are picking from a large pool of applicants. They want to know how well-rounded you are and what makes you stand out from everyone else. They will look at your grade point average, standardized test scores, class rank, personal essay, and your extracurricular activities — so it's important to dedicate time and effort to all these things.

Admissions Options

Most schools offer a range of admissions options. Investigate which of these your favorite schools offer:

• Regular admissions means that schools mail their decisions in April.


• Rolling admissions means that a school processes applications as they come in; you can apply at any time, but it's best to be early because spots fill up.


• The early-decision option is for students who are really sure about the school they want to attend, and who want to know earlier than April if they have been admitted. There's a drawback to applying under an early-decision option, though: You are promising that school that you'll attend if you're admitted.


• Some schools offer an early-action option, which means that students can be admitted early but don't have to attend.

Money, Money, Money

Don't cross a school off your list just because the tuition is steep. Ask your school counselor about possible community scholarships. Ask the school's financial-aid office about scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and loans. See if your parents' employers offer scholarships. And check out organizations within your community. An amazing number of college funding sources are out there for students with specific career goals in mind. Your high school guidance counselor should be a good resource for finding these.

To apply for federal aid in the United States, you have to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, although some schools use their own forms. Check with your school counselor to be sure you've covered all the bases when it comes to financial aid.

Getting a Job

Maybe you've decided that college isn't for you — right now, anyway. If you want to join the workforce, opportunities are out there for people who don't have degrees. One path that some grads take is joining the military or a service corps. Some retail or hospitality industry organizations offer training programs to high school grads. Check out the possibilities in computing, bookkeeping and payroll, or sales.

Talk to your school counselor or a favorite teacher about the job market in your area. Make sure your parents' friends know you're looking. Scour the classified ads in the newspaper and do some Internet research. Most large companies list their job openings on their websites.

Don't overlook trade opportunities. Matt studied industrial engineering in college. Halfway through the first year, he decided school just wasn't working out, although he stayed for the full year. So he transferred into an apprenticeship program to become an electrician. "Sometimes you feel that society says you have to go to college, especially if you're a good student, and I went through that battle in my head," says Matt. "But I knew I had to figure out what was right for me. And now that I have, I don't regret my choice at all."

Taking Time Off

For some people, the prospect of starting college, especially going away to school, is scary. It's probably the first time that you'll be totally responsible for your own schedule. What if you intend to go to college but just don't feel ready to start yet — for whatever reason — and you don't want to take on a full-time job after graduation? You might want to take a year off to pause and regroup. This practice is common in some countries, like the United Kingdom, where it's called a "gap year."

Taking time off doesn't mean you should ignore the idea of applying to college. In fact, you may want to consider making your college plans before you become involved in other things, especially if you'll be traveling. Apply to schools and make your choice, then ask for a deferred admission. Rachel took a year off and worked in New York City between college and medical school. She says that she had to be extremely well organized about planning for med school so she didn't miss any of her deadlines. "Not only did I have to apply to schools and make plans to take my MCAT exams, I also had to make all my living arrangements and other plans for my year off!"

Even if you decide not to apply to college, it can be a great idea to take a year to do something you may not have an opportunity to do again. Lots of volunteer organizations would welcome your time and energy and would provide you with a wonderful learning experience.

If you take a year off you'll learn some great life skills — like living on a tight budget! Plan how you'll pay your way while you're traveling or doing volunteer work. Can you live at home or with friends? Get a part-time job?

Talking to Your Parents

What if your post-graduation plans differ from what your parents have in mind? Talk openly with your parents about your plans — both for the short term (like what you want to do next year) and the long term (what you think you'd like to do in life). If your parents want you to go to college but you don't feel you're ready or that college is right for you, explain why.

"My parents were a little concerned that I wouldn't follow through on my plans for medical school if I took a year off," says Rachel. "But I explained how I was worried I'd burn out if I spent all that time in school — I just felt I needed a break to do something different. I think that when they saw all the planning I put into my medical school applications, they were reassured!"

Getting Advice

Even if your parents are cool, they probably don't know everything. For school and career guidance, visit your school counselor and talk with adult friends (for example, godparents or friends of the family). Make an effort to talk to people in the fields that interest you. If you think you want to be an accountant, call some accountants and ask them about their work. Most people are flattered to get calls like this, and they'll usually take the time to talk to a student.

Whatever you choose to do now does not have to be what you do forever. You can always go back to school or change a career path — lots of people do.