On February 13, we hosted a Twitter chat to discuss all the ins and outs of college tours with non-profit organizations, counselors, and colleges. Our contributors shared some great tips to help you understand how to get ahead when going to campus tours. Check out our questions and some of the best answers below:
Julie Lee ‘20, Boston Latin School
You just finished applying to all of your colleges. Congrats! Acceptance letters will come rolling in soon, and you’ll be comparing the financial aid packages from the different universities. But what if your top school doesn’t provide a lot of financial aid? What can you do right now to pay for these costs? Apply for scholarships!
Right now is a great time to start searching for scholarships. There are scholarships available for just about anything, ranging from sports and academics to family background and field of interest. We recommend searching for scholarships based on what you are most passionate about.
What are the passion-based scholarships?
Passion-based scholarships look past academic achievements and athletic ability. Instead, these scholarships are based on your hobbies and personal interests, no matter how niche they may be. Some examples include art scholarships, scholarships for students with a particular major, scholarships for charity work, and even scholarships involving social media participation.
How do you apply?
The submission process varies depending on the scholarship. For example, if you’re creative and enjoy graphic design, painting, or anything art-related, they might have you submit your portfolio or create a design specifically for this scholarship. For the Doodle for Google scholarship, you can submit a drawing related to their theme before the deadline on March 13, 2020. Other scholarships are as simple as writing a short essay on your interests.
How to search
You can start by searching “[insert your interests here] scholarships” into Google. You can also check out the scholarships we have with our partners on our website (www.collegefindme.com/student/scholarships).
Tips for applying for scholarships:
Good luck with your scholarship search!
Jaadyyah Shearrion ’20, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
Calling all sports fans, athletes, and everyone who goes to their high school football game just for the experience! As the winter sports season ends, spring sports take center stage. Baseball, lacrosse, outdoor track, crew, rugby, sailing, softball, tennis, and boy’s volleyball are just a few springtime favorites. But how can you make the most of your high school sports experience this spring? Read below to find out!
Sticking to a Schedule
Spring season often marks the beginning of the countdown for summer vacation. Some classes start to pick up speed as the school year comes to an end, so make sure to set up a solid schedule. For seniors, this is going to be the last three or so months of high school and we all have to make them count. Even for those who aren’t graduating, you should work hard to finish the semester strong! As you choose your springtime sport, ensure that the required time commitment is compatible with your course load. If you are taking a class that is very time-consuming, you should also consider how much time you’ll have to dedicate to games and practices.
The Benefits of Sports
Everyone knows that sports help you stay physically healthy, but what else do they do? Sports can also help you improve mentally by challenging you to problem solve, strategize and work towards a common goal. Sports also tend to bring people together. During the springtime especially, the weather is amazing and it’s easy to make plans with teammates after practice. Even if you don’t play a team sport, you can still connect with others who enjoy your sport and help teach your friends who don’t participate.
Hitting a Homerun on Your College Apps
If you’ve been playing a spring sport in high school, include it in your college applications! Colleges love to see which activities you’re passionate about, and your commitment to a springtime sport can be a great way to stand out. Plus, what you’ve learned from your athletic experiences can also help you come up with material for your college essay, supplemental writing, and college interviews.
Continuing in College
For those who want to keep playing sports in college, the opportunities are endless! Collegiate sports have three levels of play: Division 1, 2, or 3. D1 and D2 schools offer scholarships for students whose skills are high level. Usually, D1 and D2 schools tend to be large public universities and D3 schools tend to be private colleges. Though D3 schools won’t offer you an athletic scholarship, you can always get an academic scholarship. If you plan on going pro, talk to your coach about the recruitment process. You should also be aware that almost every college has a variety of sports at the club and intramural levels, which means you can continue playing what you love on your college campus, without the intensive time commitment of collegiate sports.
Hopefully, you feel prepared to start up the season with these tips. Get ready for a spring full of self-discovery, dedication and fun with friends. I can’t wait to see you at tryouts!