America's Best Colleges for B Students. Tamra B. Orr
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Название: America's Best Colleges for B Students
Автор: Tamra B. Orr
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Учебная литература
isbn: 9781617600845
isbn:
There is another important element of the admissions process that we don't want to overlook—personal reference letters. This time you don't have to sell yourself with your words; other people will do the job for you.
Whom should you ask to write a letter of reference? Common sense says to make it someone who likes you, right? Just don't make it your grandmother, best friend or boyfriend. Sure, they like you—even love you—but you need a letter that will show how a person has evaluated you as a potential student, not something about how you are the best granddaughter, friend or girlfriend in the world. Here are some potential people to ask:
co-workers, employers or supervisors
teachers
coaches
other school faculty
your pastor
karate instructor or sponsor of other activities outside of school
if you have done volunteer work, ask the organization's leader
It may be tricky to ask someone at school for a letter of recommendation if you haven't done well in his/her class but don't rule it out. Explain to your teacher or counselor what you are trying to accomplish and you may find you have more of an ally than you had originally thought. If you have a reason for not performing to your full potential, let your teacher know. Explaining your circumstances can help your teacher write a more supportive letter that gives a fuller picture of who you are.
How do you go about asking for a letter of reference? Ask in person rather than by email or telephone. This way you can show how much it would mean to you to have this individual's personal recommendation.
Be sure to give the person plenty of time to write a quality letter. Don't walk up to your boss at the end of the shift and say, “Before I go home tonight, could you write a reference letter for me?” Ask weeks ahead if possible. If there are word limits or other restrictions on the letter's format, be sure to tell the person before he or she begins writing.
Some people may not know how to write a personal reference letter, so be ready to tell them what it should include. Provide a resume or summary of some of your achievements to help the different individuals that you ask to write letters, and include a stamped, addressed envelope to the school. The typical letter should be about one to two pages in length and should include these elements:
The identity of the writer
The writer's relationship to you (teacher/student; employer/employee, etc.)
Why the writer has chosen to recommend you as a potential candidate for college
Examples and illustrations of the strong points that he or she has observed in you
An overall evaluation of you as a student, community volunteer, all-around person
A conclusion
Afterwards, always, always, always show your appreciation and gratitude for each person's help. A thank you note is really good manners, but a direct and sincere thank you face to face is great too.
CHAPTER FIVE
WINNING IN WORDS: THE ALSO-IMPORTANT COLLEGE INTERVIEW
You may or may not have won over those admissions officers or committee members with your written words, so now it's time to dazzle them with your verbal wit. The college interview is important as it is another chance to show a school just who you are, why you want to attend their college and why they should count themselves lucky to get you (in a humble fashion, of course). It is also another chance to explain why your numbers are not as high as they could be.
While not all colleges require an interview, if you are given the opportunity, take it. Interviews may be held at the college with an admissions officer, which requires a trip to the school. But sometimes interviews are conducted in your community by local alumni. You should look forward to the opportunity of an interview. In fact, you might find it easier to discuss issues face to face rather than on paper.
Of course, unlike the essay, an interview doesn't afford you the chance to brainstorm, outline, think about, mull over, ponder and weigh the questions. Your responses are going to be on the spot, so preparation is the key to not looking like a befuddled idiot desperately searching for the right answers.
What kinds of questions will you be asked during the interview? They are similar to the kinds of questions that are used as essay topics. But the essay has just one question to answer or one topic to explore. In the interview, however, you typically answer a number of questions and converse with an interviewer or panel for 15 minutes to an hour. Topics to be discussed are often divided into categories like school/classes, teachers, extracurricular activities, community, college and the world in general. Here are some typical examples. As you read these questions, think about how you would answer each one.
How would you describe your high school?
How do you fit into your school?
If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be? Why?
What has been your favorite/least favorite class in school?
Who was your favorite/least favorite teacher in school? Why?
How do you spend your free time and/or summers?
Do you have a hobby of some kind? Tell me about it.
Why are you interested in coming to this college?
Where do you see yourself four years from now?
What would you like to change about yourself?
What are the three words that best describe you?
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Why do you think you are a good match for this college?
What do you think about ____________________ (current event, literature, art, music or other contemporary subject)?
DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT YOU
Since the interviewers are real people, they value real conversations. Which would you prefer: listening to a one-hour soliloquy with Socratic references on the merits of academia as perceived through the eyes of an 18-year-old, or participating in an intriguing conversation about current events, life experiences and personal opinions? Needless to say, interviewers prefer the latter as well.
Throughout your interviews, remind yourself that your goal is to achieve two-way conversation. Be careful of any interview where the subject is you and you dominate the interview talking about your accomplishments. Don't worry about trying to mention all your achievements—your interviewer will ask about them. At the same time, however, this is not the only thing the interview is about.
Common sense tells us that most people enjoy talking about themselves, and interviewers are no different. Your interviewers volunteered for this job because they enjoyed СКАЧАТЬ