Meet Our Experts

Tips for Your Academic Career and Beyond

Basic Rules for the Application Process:

• Proofread your application and essay(s). Basic grammar or spelling mistakes could reflect poorly on your work.
• When asked to write an opinion piece or answer essay questions, be sure to support any opinions in the essay with facts. Schools like to see that you are willing to do the extra work to support the ideas that you have.
• When contacting an admissions office, you should make the call instead of having your parents call for you. Schools want students to be the most important part of the process, and they want the student to ask questions that are important to them.
• After making a contact at the school, follow up with that person after submitting your application to make sure they received everything.
• Be sure to include everything that the school requests with your application to avoid receiving a late decision or being placed on a waiting list.

Things to Remember When Visiting College Campuses:

• Do some research before visiting the campus. Being informed about the basic information before you arrive will enable you to gain specific information from the counselors, faculty, and students.
• Arm yourself with questions. Be prepared to ask questions about more than just the standard topics, such as GPAs and entrance exams. Instead, ask questions pertaining to any special needs or interests that you might have. Your visit is one of the best times to have all of your questions answered.
• Carefully choose your attire. You'll want to make a good first impression when meeting people who will be making admissions decisions and professors who could possibly be an advisor or in your department.
• Stay positive throughout interviews. Basic manners, a positive attitude, and honesty all play an important part in the interviewing process.
• Take a campus tour. The tour guides will be able to show you all or most of campus and answer questions for you along the way.
• Look at the residence halls. Investigate the housing options available to students, if applicable, and tour some of the facilities.
• Meet with one or more faculty members. If possible, meet with a faculty member or chair of the department in which you are considering. This may also give you a better idea of what to expect from classes at the college or university.
• Keep in contact. Follow up with the counselor or faculty member that you met with during your visit to keep the lines of communication open. Ask if you can provide any additional information to help them make their admissions decisions.

Some Important Pieces of Advice to Get You through Your College Career:

• Carefully choose your e-mail address. You will use your e-mail to communicate with many people throughout your college career—friends, professors, advisors, potential employers, and more. It is important to have an e-mail address appropriate for all situations.
• Take at least one suit. There may be times in your college career where professional business attire will be required, such as job interviews, career fairs, and class presentations.
• Enroll in classes that prepare you for the everyday world. Even if your major doesn't require it, try to take an upper level writing or communication course; writing and communications skills play an important role in almost every career field.
• Gain practical experience inside the classroom. Courses that offer tips in résumé writing and interviewing skills will help you tremendously when beginning the job search or graduate admissions processes.
• Look for possible work experience. Some areas of study, such as engineering or computer science, offer co-ops and internships to students. This can be one of the best ways to gain work experience before you graduate and enter the field.
• Find a balance in extracurricular activities. Activities outside the classroom can offer students a variety of options for participation; from volunteer organizations and Greek life to athletics, clubs, and professional organizations, students can meet new people and become involved on campus.
• Meet with your advisor regularly. Even if you have a specific reason for meeting, it is important to develop a relationship with your advisor. He or she can help you decide which courses and career paths are right for you.
• Have fun too! While you're taking classes for your major, and possibly minors or concentrations too, try to take a few classes in other areas too. If your school offers them, try taking a class in aerobics or pottery or maybe golf or billiards.

Tips for Beginning the Job Search and Interviewing Process:

• Always have your résumé up to date. Even if you're not actively searching for a job yet, you never know when an unexpected opportunity may arise.
• Start to build a portfolio of your work. Whether you have examples of classroom projects, samples of work from an intern-ship or co-op, or an assortment of both, many prospective employers like to see the type experience that you've had and the quality of work you can do.
• Get letters of recommendation before you graduate. If graduate school is a possibility for your future or you feel that a recommendation from a faculty member could increase your chances of getting a job, try to get a letter of recommendation before you graduate. Some schools will even keep them on file for you for future use.
• Use the career service centers that are available on campus. Career centers offer services such as career advising, practice interviews, résumé critiques, and much more.
• Attend job fairs. Many colleges and universities offer job fairs that bring representatives from businesses and organizations across the United States. Job fairs can be a great place to make new contacts and talk to others who work in your field.
• Make the most of alumni/faculty contacts. Sometimes the best way to get your foot in the door is through people you know. Some schools even provide graduates with an alumni network to help them get started in their careers.
• Take the time to really look at the jobs or graduate programs to which you are applying. Avoid blindly apply to jobs and programs without knowledge of the company or school—you don't want to be caught off guard if the employer or school representative calls you to discuss a position or program. Being able to ask questions and engage in a discussion will increase your marketability.