Education Articles from College Matching Service

To enter a college of your choice, you must start taking preparations beforehand. As soon as you enter junior high school, you must start preparing yourself for college admittance. At junior high school students usually have strong understanding of math and are capable of composing essays grammatically and logically. You can also establish a university saving fund that are specifically designed for your higher education. At this stage, students are able to visualize their future independent of their parents.

Life In High School

In high school, extracurricular activities, grade point and curricula become crucial factors for college admittance. Usually, most universities and colleges want the students to complete few basic subjects successfully in high school. These are:

• Foreign language
• Lab sciences
• Social sciences and history
• Math including geometry and algebra
• English

Guidance Counselor

Students must start meeting a guidance counselor from the beginning of their 9^th grade in order to make sure that they are taking proper coursework. Often, a guidance counselor provides information on scholarships and college admission examinations.

Extracurricular Activities

Apart from study, colleges also prefer those students who make some contribution towards their community. Students who take part in extracurricular activities during school years are eligible to get grants and scholarships in college which helps them to fund their own education. You will get unlimited volunteering opportunities; look around, and you will find something that will give you a chance to volunteer.

College Admission Examinations

Most colleges need either ACT or SAT scores for easy admission. Contact your chosen college and ask about the exam they require. It is always advisable to sit for both the tests, so that all types of options are available before you.

ACT: This examination consists of multiple-choice questions which cover science, reading, math and English. Sit for the exam during your 11^th grade; if you score badly, you can sit for the exam again. Start studying for this course from your 9^th grade.

SAT: This examination tests writing skills, math problem solving and critical reading. Start preparing for SAT from your junior years especially from your 9^th grade. If you get lower score than desired, you can sit for the exam again.

Proper college preparation may ensure success and will provide a smooth transition towards independence.

Time is one of the most vital factors which should always be kept in mind while staying with your roommate. If you cannot divide your time, then you have to be the worst sufferer at the end. You can divide your time for studies and time for gossip.

Moreover, you can also maintain a close parity between the time for games and recreation. These are also very urgent since life cannot move without all of these in correct proportions. Time should be managed in such way that you get optimum time for your benefit while you let your mind to relax. The points which one has to keep in mind are the following:

a) Keep some time for your studies : The time should be adjusted in such a way that your mind is fresh and you can concentrate to the maximum extent. Moreover, studies are the first priorities of a student. If he has more time to study, then he can score better marks and therefore he shall have a bright future. You must always keep these in your mind. Therefore, keeping a lot of time for your studies and fulfilling your dreams should be your first priority.

b) Relax and gossip with your roommate: You can relax while having a light gossip with your roommate. This would ensure a good relationship with your roommate. Make sure not to enter into any confrontation with your roommate. This may be dangerous for you. Moreover, there may be instances of cold war among roommates. This is unhealthy and you should always avoid any such situation.

c) Never enter into an unwanted conflict: There may be times in which you can feel that your roommate is imposing something which is not right. Never react instantly to the situation. This may spoil the entire thing. Later on however, you can tell your roommate about the thing which you did not like.

There is no fixed formula which would help you in getting to a college of your choice. But there are some ways which might help you in getting the admission. If you are interested in getting into colleges then follow these plans.

1) Take the demanding courses: It is not that the curriculum would always help you getting an admission. But if you take tough subjects in your high school and score good grades, then you can easily get an admission in a good college. However, before taking the course know your potential. If you cannot carry on with the course, then it is of no use.

2) Concentrate more on reading and writing: It is not at all necessary to take up any career oriented course. This is because you are not expected to concentrate on your career immediately. Instead, you should concentrate more on reading and writing for doing well in examinations. You should also go and study a language in the four years time.

3) Extra-curricular activities do matter: Some colleges get more number of eligible applicants than they can admit. Then the candidates having good extra-curricular skills get the advantage. These skills show your potential and therefore if you are doing a job after college let the authorities know this.

4) Scores in SAT and ACT: If you have scored well in SAT and ACT, they will definitely help you get into a good college. However, scoring good grades only once will not do. You should perform consistently if you want to earn your degree from a good college.

5) Make your resume fast: When you are building your academic resume, do not wait for your senior year. Begin making the resume early because when you apply for the colleges by that time you have already accomplished what you wanted to.

Keep these plans in mind and they will definitely help you get into a college.

Though there are quite a few advantages of joining the Greek life, there are some disadvantages also. Before joining the Greek life keep in mind these disadvantages also. The disadvantages are:

a) Time commitment: The procedures like rushing and pledging are indeed time consuming ones. Therefore if you want to have good grades in the examination it is better not to get involved in ‘Greek life’. Moreover as an active member you are bound to take part in important social events and that will also hamper your studies.

b) Money matters: You have to shell out fairly large amount of money for getting associated with Greek life. The expenses not only include fees, dues and lodging rent but also expenses for social events and buying formal attire.

c) Negative image: In some colleges members of sororities and fraternities are not seen in good lights. Many professors even have negative ideas about following a Greek lifestyle in college.

d) Need lots of willpower and balance: As a member of sorority or fraternity lots of temptations would come into your way. Before joining a sorority or fraternity decide whether you have the willpower to enjoy within limit and given priority to education. If you think that you do not have the willpower then think twice before joining these organizations.

e) Isolation: Though these Greek organizations are great places for networking yet they give lesser opportunities to make friends on the campus. As a part of these organizations you have to attend various social activities all round the year. This will deter the normal friendship that you can have with the other students in the campus.

f) Academic awareness: Some Greek organizations take in members who have high GPAs and good academic achievements. However there are many which do not bother about the academic performance of the students. So before you join have a clear idea about the attitude of the community towards education. Also know about the reputation of the Greek community in the campus.

All these disadvantages have made these sororities and fraternities unpopular in the campuses.