Transcript Document

Tips For College Bound Students
Make sure you take
advantage of all the
learning opportunities
that Ridgeview offers!
Information for this
presentation was
taken and modified from a
College Admission’s article
found at
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/admissionstimeline/
tp/12th-grade-timeline.htm
Next
Select the grade level that you
would like to explore.
College
The path to
college leads
to success
and it starts
one paw at
a time!
Middle School
 Although your middle school grades and activities will not
appear on your college application, you can use your seventh
and eighth grades year to set yourself up to have the strongest
record possible in high school.
I will challenge
myself in High
School and get
involved with
the pack.
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Next(tips for 8th graders)
Educational Tips for 8th Graders
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We will soon
be joining
the RHS
Wolf Pack.
Work on good study habits.
Develop time-management skills.
Will we be
Read a lot!
able to walk
on the grass?
Explore your interests!
Plan to take college prep courses your 9th grade year.
Colleges and Universities typically do not look at middle school grades,
but it is important that you have good study skills and good time
management to be successful in high school. Also, the more you read,
the stronger your verbal, writing and critical thinking abilities will be.
Time Management Article
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http://homeworktips.about.com/od/makingthegrades/tp/Study-Habits-ForMiddle-School-Students.htm
Freshman Year
 College seems a long way off in the 9th grade, but you
need to start thinking about college now. The reason is
simple -- your 9th grade academic and extracurricular
record will be part of your college application. Low
grades in 9th grade can seriously jeopardize your
chances of getting into the country's most selective
colleges.
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Educational Tips for 9th Grade
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Meet with your high school counselor
Take challenging courses
Keep your grades up
Take a foreign language
Get help if you need it
Be involved in extracurricular activities
Typical college prep schedule
Should I really
worry about
my freshman
year ?
Contrary to popular belief, your 9th grades count! Low grades in 9th grade can
jeopardize your chances of getting into the college or your choice.
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9th: Meet Your Academic Counselor
 An informal meeting with your high school counselor can
have many benefits in the 9th grade. Use the meeting to find
out about the A-G college admission requirements.
You must be A-G qualified,
take the SAT/ACT, take
challenging courses, and
get involved in your school
and community. I
encourage you to come
see me once in a while so
we can chat about college.
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Do you think
I can get into
a CSU or a
UC?
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9th:Take Challenging Courses
 Your academic record is the most important part of your
college application. Colleges want to see more than good
grades; they also want to see that you have pushed yourself
and taken the most challenging courses offered at your
school. Set yourself up so that you can take full advantage of
whatever Honors and AP courses your school offers.
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9th: Focus on Grades
 Grades matter in your freshman year. No other part of your
college application carries more weight than the courses you
take and the grades you earn
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9th: Foreign Language
 In our increasingly globalized world, colleges and universities
want their applicants to have command of a foreign language.
If you can keep taking a language all the way through senior
year your chances of admission will improve.
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9th: Get Help if You Need It
 If you are struggling in a subject DO NOT ignore the issue.
Talk to your counselor! Unresolved difficulties in A-G
courses will lead to difficulties later in high school. Seek out
extra help and tutoring to polish up your skills.
Tutoring is available free of charge in the library on
Mondays, Tuesday, and Wednesdays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm
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9th: Extracurricular Activities
 Involve yourself in extracurricular activities that you are
passionate about. Colleges look for students with varied
interests and evidence of leadership potential. Involvement in
activities outside of the classroom reveals information about
you to the college admissions committee.
You can call the Volunteer Center at 661-397-9787
for community service opportunities.
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Freshman College Prep And GATE Schedule
College Prep Schedule
GATE Schedule
 English 9CP
 English 9 GATE
 Algebra
 Geometry GATE
 Earth Science/Ag Resources
 Biology GATE
 Health
 Health
 PE
 PE
 Spanish or a Fine Art class
 Spanish or a Fine Art class
 Lunch
 Lunch
*Some freshmen students may take a zero period such as Band or Forensics.
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Sophomore Year
 Even though college applications are still a few years off,
keep your long-term goals in mind. Work on keeping your
grades up, taking challenging courses, and gaining depth in
your extracurricular activities.
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Next (Tips for 10th graders)
10th: Educational Tips for 10th Grade
 Continue to take challenging courses
 Grades, Grades, Grades
 Put effort into extracurricular activities
 Continue with foreign language
 Take the PSAT
 Visit colleges and browse the web
 Typical sophomore college prep schedule
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All of those
are great
tips! Read
about
them!
10th: Continue to take challenging courses
 An "A" in AP Biology is more impressive than an "A" in gym
or TA.Your success in completing challenging academic
courses provides the college admissions committee with the
best evidence of your ability to succeed in college.
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10th: Grades, Grades, Grades
 Throughout high school nothing matters more than your
academic record. If you are aiming for a highly selective
college, every low grade you earn may limit your options
(but do not panic -- students with the occasional "C" still
have plenty of options). Work on self- discipline and time
management in an effort to earn the highest grades possible.
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10th: Put Effort Into Extracurricular
Activities
 By the time you apply to college, you should be able to
demonstrate depth and leadership in an extracurricular area.
Colleges will be more impressed with the applicant who
played first- chair clarinet in the All-State Band than the
applicant who took a year of music, a year of dance, three
months of chess club and a weekend volunteering at a soup
kitchen. Think about what it is that you will bring to a college
community. A long but shallow list of extracurricular
involvement really does not amount to anything meaningful.
JOIN A SPORT
JOIN A CLUB
BE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN SCHOOL
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VOLUNTEER
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10th: Foreign Language
 Colleges will be much more impressed by students who can
read Don Quixote in Spanish than those who have a shallow
smattering of "bonjours" and "mercis." Depth in a single
language is a better choice than introductory courses to two
or three languages. Be sure to read more about.
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10th: Take the PSAT
 This is entirely optional, if your school allows it. Consider
taking the PSAT in October of the10th grade. The
consequences of doing poorly are zero. The practice can help
determine what type of preparation is needed before taking
the PSAT. The PSAT will not be part of your college
application, but be sure to read why the PSAT matters.
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10th: Visit Colleges and Browse the
Web
 Your sophomore year is a good time to do some low-pressure
exploration of the college options out there. If you are near a
campus, stop by and take the tour. If you have more than an
hour, follow these college visit tips to get the most out of
your time on campus. Also, many schools offer informative
virtual tours on their websites. This preliminary research will
help with the decision-making process during the junior and
senior years.
Explore on your own
Read the Bulletin Boards
Eat in the Dining Hall
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Visit a class in your major
Talk to Lots of Students
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Typical Sophomore Schedule
 College Prep
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English 10 CP
Geometry
World History
Biology
PE
Spanish or Fine Art Class
Lunch
 GATE
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GATE English 10
Honors Advanced Algebra
GATE World History
Honors Chemistry
PE
Spanish or Fine Art Class
Lunch
Some sophomore students may take a zero period such as Band or Forensics. Many
variations in schedules exist.
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Junior Year
 In the11th grade, the college preparation process accelerates.
Pay careful attention to looming deadlines and application
requirements. Realize that in the11th grade it is not
necessary to know exactly where to apply. However, you do
need to have a plan mapped out for achieving broad
educational goals. Plan to attend junior college night Full
Speed
in the Spring.
Ahead!!
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Next (Tips for 11th graders)
11th: Educational Tips for 11th Grade
 Take the PSAT
 Take advantage of Honors and AP classes
 Keep your grades up
 Continue taking a foreign language
11th grade is a
tough year. Read
these tips to
make your 11th
grade a
successful school
year.
 Assume a leadership role in an extracurricular activity
 In the Spring, take the SAT and/or ACT
 Visit Colleges and browse the web.
 Draft a college list
 Typical junior college prep schedule
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11th: Take the PSAT
 A good score on the PSAT exam may translate into
thousands of dollars from scholarships specifically for high
scoring students. The exam will reveal your preparedness for
the SAT. Be sure to read more about why the PSAT matters.
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11th: Take Advantage of Honors and AP
classes
 No piece of your college application carries more weight
than your academic record. If you can take AP courses in
11th grade, do so. If you can take a course at a local college,
do so. If you can study a subject in greater depth than what is
required, do so.Your success in upper-level and college-level
courses is a clear indicator that you have the skills to succeed
in college.
Honors Math Analysis
Honors Anatomy
AP Spanish
AP Biology
AP US History
AP English
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AP Calculus
Honors Geology
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11th: Keep Your Grades Up
 11th grade is probably your most important year for earning
high grades in challenging courses. If you had a few marginal
grades in 9th or 10th grade, improvement in 11th grade
shows a college that you have learned how to be a good
student. Many of your senior year grades come too late to
play a big role on your application, so junior year is essential.
A drop in your grades in 11th grade shows a move in the
wrong direction, and it will raise red flags for the college
admission committee.
Study
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11th: Foreign Language
 If you find language study frustrating or difficult, it may
be tempting to give up on it and shop around for other
classes. Do not give up! Not only will mastery of a
language serve you well in your life, but it will also
impress the college admission committee and open up
more options. Read More
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11th: Assume a Leadership Role in an
Extracurricular Activity
 Colleges like to see that you are a band section leader, a team
captain, or an event organizer. Realize that you do not need
to be a prodigy to be a leader -- a second-string football
player or third-chair trumpet player can be a leader in
fundraising or community outreach. Think about ways to
contribute to an organization or community endeavor.
Colleges are looking for future leaders, not passive
bystanders.
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11th: Take the SAT and/or ACT
 Keep track of SAT registration deadlines and test dates (and
ACT dates). While not essential, it is a good idea to take the
SAT or ACT in your junior year. If you do not get good
scores, spend some time in the summer studying before
retaking the exam in the fall. Colleges will only consider
your highest scores.
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11th: Draft a College List
 Once first semester grades are transcripted, and PSAT scores
are available, you will be able to start predicting which
colleges and universities will be reach schools, match schools
and safety schools. Look over the college profiles to see
average acceptance rates and SAT/ACT score ranges. For
now, a list of 5-10 schools is a good starting point. It is best
to narrow down the list before applying in the fall of your
senior year. Meet with your guidance counselor to get
feedback and suggestions on your list.
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Typical Junior Schedule
 College Prep
 English 11CP
 U.S. History CP
 Advanced Algebra
 Chemistry
 Spanish
 Fine Art
 Lunch
 Honors/AP
 AP English 11
 AP U.S. History
 Honors Math Analysis
 AP Biology
 Spanish
 Fine Art
 Lunch
Some juniors may take a zero period such as Band or Forensics. Many variations in these
schedules exists.
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Senior Year
 Senior year is a busy and extremely important time in the
college admissions process. This is the last chance to get the
ACT and SAT scores needed for a particular college. Senior
year is also when you have to narrow down your college
options to a handful of schools. College essays should be
polished up and financial aid application needs to be
submitted by March 2. During the application process keep
active in extracurricular activities and maintain high grades.
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Next (Tips for 12th graders)
12th: Month-by-Month Timeline
 August before Senior year
 September
 October
 November
 December-January
 February- March
 April
 May-June
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Message from
the Alpha wolf:
“Senior year is
about being
focused. Enjoy
the journey.”
12th: August Before Senior Year
 Come up with a preliminary list of colleges that includes
reach, match and safety schools.
 Explore the websites of the colleges that interest you to learn
about admission requirements.
 Check your senior year class schedule to make sure you are
enrolled in the appropriate classes.
 If applying to a UC, begin thinking about the two required
prompts.
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12th: September
 Register for the September SAT/ACT if appropriate (check
ACT dates, SAT dates).
 Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss your college
options.
 Work on your college essays (for UCs)
 Try to assume a leadership position in an extracurricular
activity.
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12th: October
 Take the SAT, and/or ACT if necessary.
 Take advantage of college fairs and virtual tours.
 Research financial aid and scholarships. Do your parents'
places of employment offer college scholarships for employee
children?
 Get your college essay in shape. Get feedback on your
writing from a guidance counselor and a teacher.
 Keep track of all application components and deadlines:
applications, test scores, letters of recommendation, and
financial aid materials. An incomplete application will ruin
your chances for admission.
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12th:November
 Register for the December SAT or ACT if necessary.
 Do not let your grades slide. It is easy to be distracted from
school work when working on applications. Senior slump can
be disastrous for your admission chances.
 Continue to research scholarships.
 Submit college application.
 CSU application timeline: October 1st-November 30th.
 UC application timeline: November 1st-Novermeber 30th.
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12th: December-January
 Continue to focus on your grades and extracurricular
involvement.
 Have midyear grades sent to colleges (if required).
 Continue to research scholarships. Apply for scholarships
well in advance of deadlines.
 Start completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Financial
Aid).(FAFSA application becomes available January 1st).
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12th: February-March
 If you submitted the FAFSA, you should receive the Student Aid
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Report (SAR). Carefully look it over for accuracy. Errors can cost
you thousands of dollars.
Contact colleges that did not send you a confirmation receipt for
your application.
Keep your grades high. Colleges can revoke offers of admission if
your grades take a nosedive senior year.
Some acceptance letters may arrive. Compare financial aid offers,
and if possible visit the campus before making a decision.
Do not panic; many decisions are not mailed out until April.
Continue applying for appropriate scholarships.
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12th: April
 Keep track of all acceptance, rejection, and waitlist
notifications.
 Keep your grades up.
 If you have ruled out any colleges that accepted you, notify
them. This is a courtesy to other applicants, and it will help
the colleges manage their waitlist and extend the correct
number of acceptance letters.
 Go to accepted student open houses if offered.
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12th: May-June
 Avoid senioritis! An acceptance letter does not mean you can
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stop working.
Prepare for and take any appropriate AP exams. Most
colleges offer course credit for high AP scores; this gives you
more academic options when you get to college.
Have your final transcript sent to colleges.
Send thank you letters to everyone who helped you in the
application process. Let your mentors and recommenders
know the results of your college search.
High School Graduation. Congratulations!
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10 Tips for Getting Good (or Better)
Grades in College
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
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10.
Attend All Your Classes
Master Your Professor
Get/Stay Organized
Use Time Wisely
Become “Noteworthy”
Use the Textbook
Follow Good Rules of Writing
Study, Study, Study
Be a Good Test-Taker
Polish Those Verbal Communication Skills
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Follow my
advice and
you will see
results!
Attend All Your Classes
 Now, you might think this was an obvious one. But I speak from
experience when I say that many students skip classes for one
reason or another. But if you want good grades, the following is a
list of several reasons why you should attend all of your classes:
 Absorb classroom material. Even if the professor follows the textbook closely,
sitting in the classroom and listening to the lectures/discussions will help you
absorb the materials.
 Make presence known—participate! One of the benefits of going to college
should be that you form a mentoring relationship with some of your
professors, and that is not going to happen if you do not attend the classes.
Often professors have participation points (or bonus points), so beyond just
attending, make an effort to be involved in the class discussions.
 Earn attendance points. Many professors have attendance policies, so you can
have a direct impact on your grade simply by attending.
 Do not forget to sit close to the front -- historically, those who do
are usually the best students.
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Master Your Professor
 Every professor has a different personality and system for running
his/her classes, so it makes sense as early in the semester as
possible to learn what the professor wants. Here are some ways to
master your professors:
 Understand course expectations. Most professors give out a class syllabus
during the first week of classes -- and it is your responsibility to know
deadlines and all of the requirements for the course.
 Understand professors on a personal level. Rather than viewing the professor
as some figurehead at the front of the class who decides your fate in some
abstract way, get to know your professor as a person. Visit him or her during
office hours, or stay after class.
 Communicate with professors when you are struggling. Especially at larger
colleges and universities, the professor will not know when you are
struggling, so if you are having problems with the course work or the tests,
schedule an appointment to meet with the professor and get the help you
need.
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Get/Stay Organized
 Here are some tips for getting organized:
 Use a planner or other organization system.
 Stay current with due dates/course calendars. It is not enough to have a
system -- you have to use it! So once you have some sort of system, get in
the habit of using it (and it will soon become second nature).
 Keep homework, tests, and class papers in a central location. Do not
throw old homework assignments or tests in the back of your car or the
floor of your dorm room. Save all work to study for future tests or
meeting with your professor.
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Use Time Wisely
 Here are some tips for using time wisely:
 Tackle harder work first.Yes, tackle the harder stuff first so that you are sure
to have enough time to complete it.You will feel a greater sense of
accomplishment completing the work in this order.
 Take breaks as reward for work. Reward yourself for completing a major task
by taking a break and chatting with a friend or watching some television. Not
only are the breaks good motivation to help you complete something, you
will also be more refreshed to tackle the next bit of work after a break.
 Break larger projects into smaller, easy-to-accomplish pieces. If you have a
massive term paper due at the end of the semester, break up the work into
smaller chunks and assign deadlines to each part.
 Do not overextend yourself--learn to say no. Besides all of your academic
work, you will also be asked to get involved in all sorts of clubs and
organizations while in college -- and at some point, you will have to learn to
say no to some requests of your time.
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Become “Noteworthy”
 Here are some specifics:
 Be an active listener in class. Do not read the newspaper, gossips with
friends, or text your roommate during class. Instead, listen attentively
and actively -- and ask for clarification when you need it.
 Take good notes in class. Whether taking notes from scratch or following
a professor's outline, the key for you will be to get the most important
details down so that you can refer back to the material.
 Rewrite or organize notes on your computer outside of class. This
suggestion may sound a little extreme, but the writing-to-learn literature
shows that you can increase your understanding and retention of material
by rewriting it.
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Use the Textbook
 Professors assign textbooks for a reason – to supplement the
lectures and discussions from class. Buy all of the textbooks,
and follow these tips:
 Read all assigned material! When a professor assigns a chapter, read the
whole thing (unless told otherwise), including the opening vignettes,
case studies, tables and exhibits.
 Use an outlining system to help comprehend the material. Reading and
highlighting the material in the text is just the minimum. To get the most
of what you are reading, you should also take notes and outline the
material.
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Follow Good Rules of Writing
 Follow these rules of good writing:
 Organize your thoughts before writing. It is best to create an outline before
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you start the actual writing.
Understand the requirements for the paper. Every professor has a specific
way he or she wants a paper organized, and it is best to know the
requirements before you start to write.
Write a draft (and get feedback when possible). Especially for larger papers,
you will have a higher quality paper (and a better grade) if you can show the
professor a draft early enough before the deadline to make changes.
Rewrite, edit, rewrite, edit, rewrite. Learn that editing and rewriting are
your friends. No one is a good enough writer to whip out the final draft in
one sitting. The best writers go through this same process.
Proofread, proofread, proofread. Spellcheckers catch spelling errors, but not
other problems, so learn the art of proofreading. Or better, have a buddy
system with a friend in which you proofread each other's papers.
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Study, Study, Study
 Develop and practice good study habits. Make it a habit and
studying will become second nature to you.
 How do you study the best? Some people need complete
silence to concentrate while others like a little noise. Find
what works for you and stick with it.
 Study with friends to gain support, but do not turn it into a
social event. A study buddy can be a great tool, as long as you
actually get some studying accomplished.
 Make sure work is done before socializing. Studying is critical
to learning, which is critical to better grades -- so do the
work before heading out to have fun.
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Be a Good Test Taker
 Here are some hints:
 Know what to expect on exams. Know the types of questions that will be
asked -- as well as the content that will be covered.
 Read questions carefully. Take your time at the beginning of the test to
read through all the instructions and make a plan of attack.
 Pace yourself so you have plenty of time to complete all parts. Know the
point values of questions, so you can be sure to complete the most
important ones first in case time does run out.
 Ask questions. If you do not understand something, or need clarification
of the question, ask the professor. Do not wait to get the exam back and
find you answered a question the wrong way.
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Polish Those Verbal Communication
Skills
 Use these tips to improve your verbal communications skills
and maximize your grade:
 Practice speeches and presentations. The best speeches and presentations
are the well-rehearsed ones, so complete your script or outline early
enough to have time to practice the presentation (and to make sure it falls
within the specified time limit).
 If using technology, always have a back-up. Technology is great, but
sometimes it fails. If you have a PowerPoint presentation, make copies of
it as a handout in case you need it.
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Final Thoughts
 Following these guidelines should help your grades
immensely, but here is one other tip. Remember to think of
your professors as your allies, not your enemies. And if not
your allies, at least your partners. Our goal is for every
student to learn and master the materials in the course. And
if you master the materials, you should have a good grade in
the class. And if you're struggling with some aspect of the
course, just go see the professor. We're here to help you
become the best you can be.
 In general, competitive colleges require at least two years of
foreign language classes in high school. As you'll see below,
Stanford would like to see three or more years, and Harvard
urges applicants to take four years. These classes should be in
the same language.
 When a college recommends "two or more" years of a
language, they are clearly signaling that language study
beyond two years would strengthen your application. Indeed,
no matter where you apply for college, a demonstrated
proficiency in a second language will strengthen your
application. Life in college and after college is becoming
increasingly globalized, so strength in a second language
carries a lot of weight with admissions counselors.
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Reach Schools
 Definition: A reach school is a college that you have a
chance of getting into, but your test scores, class rank and /
or high school grades are a bit on the low side when you look
at the school's profile. The top U.S. colleges and top
universities should always be considered reach schools, for the
admissions standards are so high that not even perfect SAT
scores guarantee acceptance. When applying to colleges, it's
important to choose your schools wisely.You should make
sure you apply to a mix of reach schools
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Match School
 Definition: A match school is a college that you are pretty
likely to get into because your test scores, class rank and / or
high school grades fall right into the middle range when you
look at the school's profile. Note that even stellar students
should consider the top U.S. colleges and top universities to
be reach schools, not match schools. The admissions
standards for these schools are so high that nearly perfect
SAT scores and a straight 'A' transcript are no guarantee of
acceptance.
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Safety School
 Definition: A safety school is a college that you will almost
certainly get into because your test scores, class rank and / or
high school grades are well above average when you look at
the school's profile. Even if you're a valedictorian with
perfect SAT scores, you should never consider the top U.S.
colleges and top universities to be safety schools. The
admissions standards at these schools are so high that no one
is guaranteed acceptance.
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UC Personal Statement Prompts
 Describe the world you come from — for example, your
family, community or school — and tell us how your world
has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
 Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment,
contribution or experience that is important to you. What about
this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it
relate to the person you are?
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