Know your post-secondaries: Trade school, college, university, etc.

Hey there guys. Are you excited for school to start? Well I know a lot of you are beginning on applications and I am so excited for you guys! 

So something I have always found hard to explain to others when they ask me is: "What is the difference between a college, an university, a trade school or etc.?"

So I am here to answer the question I wish I would have had answered long ago!

Let's start by looking and some of the most common types of post secondary schools! 

1. University
2. 4 year College
3. Junior College
4. Community College
5. Trade School
6. Technical School
7. Career school
8. Vocational school

Have you hear of all these before? Any ones you hadn't heard about? 

Well let's go over them and what they mean!

Community College

→ A public two year college granting associate's degrees in two year liberal arts program and sometimes certificates in particular technical (career-related) subjects. Typically community college are open admissions. They are open to those 18 years of age or older. However, to be placed into a major, the individual must have a high school diploma, GED, or be placed according to ability to benefit. Some students start their postsecondary education at a community college and then transfer to a four-year school, either because a community college tends to be cheaper than a four-year college, or because admissions standards at community colleges are often less strenuous than at four-year schools. But mostly serve people from nearby communities and offer academic courses, technical courses, and continuing education courses. Public institutions are supported by state and local revenues

Junior College

→ In the United States, a junior college is a two-year post-secondary school whose main purpose is to provide academic, vocational and professional education. The highest certificate offered by such schools is usually an Associate degree, although junior college students may continue their education at a four-year university or college, transferring some or all of the credit earned at the junior college toward the degree requirements of the four-year school. 

The term "junior college" historically referred to all non-bachelor's degree granting post-secondary schools. However, over the last few decades, many public junior colleges, which typically aim to serve a local community, have replaced "junior" with "community" in their names. Thus, most self-identified junior colleges in the United States today are private institutions, although only a small percentage of all two-year institutions are private.

Trade School

→ A trade school, sometimes referred to as a vocational school, technical school, or vocational college, is a post-secondary institution that’s designed to give students the technical skills to prepare them for a specific occupation. Examples of trade schools include UEI, American Career College, and Chamberlain University. Trade schools can be public or private, but many are for-profit businesses.

At a trade school, you can get a degree in fields like information technology, nursing and health sciences, automotive technician training, and medical assisting. Program lengths vary, but typically, they can range from anywhere from eight months to two years.

Unlike a four-year college, you don’t graduate from a trade school with a bachelor’s degree. Usually, upon completion of the program, you'll receive a diploma or trade certificate acknowledging you successfully finished. For some programs you can earn an associate degree, which is the degree you get from a two-year college.

University

→ A university grants bachelor's and master's degrees, and sometimes usually include a liberal arts college, some professional schools or colleges, and graduate programs such as a law school or medical school. Universities tend to be larger than colleges, focus more on scholarly or scientific research, and might have larger class sizes. This means they can offer the two year and four-year degrees as well as graduate degrees in advanced studies beyond four years. Universities offer a huge course selection and may have extensive resources. Class size varies, depending on the size of the university, the subject area, and the course level. University professors are usually involved in research. Graduate students, rather than professors, teach some of the classes.

4-year College

→ A four-year college grants bachelor's degrees (Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science). Some colleges also award master's degrees, and some also offer a two year Associate of Arts (AA) degree. Colleges can be specialized (for example, in nursing) or they can offer a broad curriculum, like the liberal arts which focus on the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Classes tend to be smaller than those in universities. This provides students with more personal attention and better access to the faculty.

Things I wish I would have know as a freshmen...

Hey guys, the new school year is just around the corner and I was talking to my mom about what I should write on my blog. She said: "Don't you always talk about all these things you wish someone would have told you when you started high school?". And you know what? She is totally right! There are a million things I wish someone would have told me when I started! So I am going to share with all you incoming freshmen some of the central things! Here we go!

• You should start applying to scholarships in freshmen year - there are scholarships specific for freshmen's that you don't want to miss out on. Also if you don't know yet where you want to go to college make sure you will have the financial resources to go where you want to. 
• Summer programs- What you do during the summer can be important to your college application process. Many College Interview questions and the activity section on your applications will ask about your summers and what you did. I will make a future post with specific summer programs I have attended and/or can recommend. Also do not worry about the cost of them since you will be able to get scholarships for.  
• Internships- even though you might be 13 or 14 when you enter high school and not technically allowed to work a job, you can work certain internships during the summer. Not only is it a good way to test out fields of work you are interested in but also a way to save up some money for college applications and college.
• Start setting up your CommonApp and Coalition- while you might think that you don't have to worry about applying to college yet, but it is a good idea to be set up early and add to your application gradually instead of trying to rush it in your senior year. Your application will be more detailed and more thought through. In your Junior year the essay prompts should start coming out for your applications so start writing the essays then.
• Start studying for the ACT and SAT- the ACT and the SAT are hard tests if you do not study. By study I mean you have to be prepared for how the test is structured and what kind of questions to expect. Also try to find what test is a better suit for you and try taking them as early as you can. Most colleges will super score your ACT/SAT so it is a good idea to study and take it as early as you can.
• Be mindful of classes you choose- if you only choose easy classes but have a good GPA  colleges will take that in consideration when looking at your transcript. If you take harder classes like AP classes they will also consider that with your GPA. A 4.0 with regular classes won't mean as much as a 3.9 with all AP classes. Classes start mattering freshmen year.
• Become involved in at least one organization- In my freshmen year I didn't know what a big role extracurricular activities played into everything, including college and your own happiness. I recommend everyone should part take in at least one extracurricular activity that they like and see themselves be part of all of high school. Try to also go after leadership positions!
• Start going to the College &Career center at your school- In my freshmen year I didn't even know this existed at my school but if I would have I would have taken full advantage of having this resource! The college and career center at your school should have at least 2 counselors (1 college counselor and 1 career counselor). The counselors are different from your guidance counselor since they fulfill more specific tasks. For example, your career counselor will be able to help you write your resumes, find jobs/internship opportunities and even be able to practice interview skills with you. And your college counselor will be able to help you with sending transcripts, signing up for testing, applying to college, scholarships, etc. Without my college counselor, I think, I wouldn't be half as prepared as I am. Huge shoutout to Miss Perez!
• Try to talk to people who work in the field of your interest- Sometimes talking to someone can give you a more in depth and realistic view of things.
• Do a reality check- Make sure your career fits the lifestyle you want to have later on in your life. There are helpful websites like: Texas Reality Check. Since you still have time to reconsider your career pathway in freshman year so it is a good time to have a good picture of your future.
• Consider taking classes at your local community college- Many community colleges allow students to take classes during summer or even during the year at their campus for free. You only need 60 credit hours for an associates degree meaning that if you do all 4 of your core classes each year dual credit (meaning college and high school credit) you would have 48 credit hours. I you take one additional class each summer you would have 12 credit hours for all summer classes. 48+12=60 credit hours and the only cost you would have would be books and maybe a small fee for summer classes. An Associates degree's fulfills all your core requirements a college meaning you will only spend 2 years on your bachelor's degree. So you saved money and times. 
• Start finding teachers and mentors for recommendation letters- it is always good to have a plan so if you like a teacher and think they would be good to write you a letter ask them right away even if it is early.
• Have fun- there is no year like your freshmen year! Make some friends, have fun and make memories!

ACT vs SAT

Hey guys! Ever wondered what standardized test you should take? Here is a quick overview of some key factors and a quick quiz to help you! 

ACT	SAT
$67 with essay/$50.50 without essay	$64.50 with essay/$49.50 without essay
You can send your test to 4 schools for free, additional tests cost $13 each plus taxes.	You can send your test to 4 schools for free, additional tests cost $12 each plus taxes.
Sections:	Sections
Time and # of questions: Science: 35 min/40 questions Math: 60 min/ 60 questions English:45 min/75 questions Reading: 35 min/40 questions Essay:40 min./ 1 prompt	Time and # of questions: Reading: 65 min/ 52 questions Writing and Language: 35 min/ 44 questions Math without calculator: 25 min/ 20 questions Math with calculator: 55 min/ 38 questions Essay: 50 min/ 1 prompt
Scale: 1-36 Essay: 2-12	Scale:400-1600 Essay:2-8
Accepted by all colleges and universities in the US	Accepted by all colleges and universities in the US
Key difference: The Science section.	Key difference: The no calculator math section
Type of math: ACT has a much larger focus on geometry, which makes up about 35-45% of ACT Math. The ACT also tests a few concepts that the SAT doesn’t test at all. These include things such as matrices, graphs of trig functions, and logarithms.	Type of math: geometry accounts for less than 10% of SAT Math questions.Trigonometry makes up less than  5% of the SAT test. The ACT and SAT both have a big emphasis on algebra.
There are 11 states that require the ACT: Alabama Hawaii Kentucky Mississippi Montana Nebraska Nevada North Carolina Utah Wisconsin Wyoming	These states 10 require the SAT: Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Illinois Maine Michigan New Hampshire Rhode Island West Virginia
On ACT Reading, questions can flow randomly and do not routinely follow the order of the content in the passages.	On SAT Reading, all questions given to you follow a chronological order—that is, in the order of the passage to which they refer.
My score: 28 without essay Science: 26 Math: 27 English: 28 Reading: 29	My score: 1160 with essay Evidence based readig: 630 Math:530 Essay: 6

I personally did way better on my ACT than my SAT. On a conversion scale my ACT score would be a 1310 on the SAT. I increased my score by over 100 points and yes I did study but honestly for me it was just that the test was easier than the SAT so it is all about finding the right test for you.

Statement	Agree	Disagree
I struggle with geometry and trigonometry.
I am good at solving math problems without a calculator.
Science is not my forte.
It’s easier for me to analyze something than to explain my opinion.
I normally do well on math tests.
I can't recall math formulas easily.
I like coming up with my own answers for math questions.
Tight time constraints stress me out.
I can easily find evidence to back up my answers.
Chronologically arranged questions are easier to follow.

 source: Prepscholar 

Now, count up your check marks in each column to find out what your score means.

Mostly Agrees — The SAT is your match!If you agreed with most or all of the above statements, the SAT is what you've been looking for. With the SAT, you'll have more time for each question and won't need to deal with a pesky science section or a ton of geometry questions.

Mostly Disagrees — The ACT's the one for you!If you disagreed with most or all of the statements, you'll most likely prefer the ACT over the SAT. On the ACT, you'll never have to come up with your own answers to math problems, and you get to let your opinion shine in your writing.

Equal Agrees and Disagrees — Either test will work!If you checked "Agree" and "Disagree" an equal number of times, either the ACT or SAT will suit you. Unless you decide to take both, I suggest taking official ACT and SAT practice tests (as described in #1 above) to see which test's format you're ultimately more comfortable with.

Interviews 101

Hey guys if you are in the college application process at the moment you probably already know about college interviews. I am actually having my first interview on August 12th... ugh I am so nervous, but I feel really prepared! So first of all make sure you know what kind of interview you have.

There are 3 major types of interviews:

• Evaluative:  Usually offered by admissions officers or highly trained current students, these are generally the most formal interviews.
• Informational or Non-Evaluative:  These are offered as ways for prospective students to get to know a college better, and at the same time to give the student the opportunity to share information that may not be easily conveyed in the application.
• Alumni:  Selective colleges may offer alumni interviews to applicants after they have submitted their applications.

What to wear:

• Evaluative: Business (women/men)
• Informational or Non-Evaluative: Business Casual 
• Alumni: Business Casual

What questions might they ask (links to how to answer them):

College Interview Questions:
Describe a challenge you overcame
Tell me about yourself 
What are your future plans in 10 years? 
What will you contribute to our college?
Do your grades accurately reflect your effort and ability?
Why are you interested in our college?
What do you do for fun?
What would you do differently high school?
What do you want to major in?
Recommend a good book to me
What can I tell you about our college?
What did you do this summer?
What do you do best?
Who has most influednce you?

How to become an AP scholar

Hey guys, as you may know I recently was sent my award certificate for being an AP scholar and I am super excited about it! When I first told my friends (most of them are also AP students) they were really surprised and thought that it was impossible to do for them to be AP scholars. I'm here to tell you how you can easily become an AP scholar:

My Award :) Sorry it is blurry:(

All my scores so far... don't mind the Chemistry one...

As you can see above I passed most of my AP test except for Chemistry. I am not happy with my Chemistry score but I was a hard test and I am going to retake it next year so it really doesn't bother me that much. Some people have ask me how I was able to become an AP scholar even though I failed a test. Well, to become an AP scholar you only have to pass 3 or more tests with a score of 3 or better. Here is a link of All AP scholar awards.

Now to the main point. How can you become an AP scholar?

1.  Are you fluent in any language other than English? Is that language offered as an AP test?- If your answer was yes to both of those questions then I suggest you buy yourself a Princeton Review book to look at the structure of the test and take the test. That is what I did with my German test. Also if you need a review book for the German AP test comment down below because I have a totally unused one, that I can give you!
2. Do you have a passion in a particular subject field?- If you have a natural gift like memorizing dates or all chemistry formulas use it. Buy an AP book for a subject you are informed in, even if you haven't taken a class in it, and teach it yourself. You can even go to teachers for help!
3. Take tests you find easy- if you think that the hardest test ever is Art History and Calculus BC is easy to you... take your strong suits!
4. Take all the tests corresponding to classes you've taken- Even if you aren't 100% sure you'll do great on the test make sure you still take all the tests corresponding to your classes you've taken. You'd be surprised how much easier the test is from the actual class and how much more you remember when it really comes down to it.
5. Take as many tests as you can- I know they are expensive but hear me out. At my school they didn't give the German Test on the sign up sheet so I went to talk to our AP coordinator. They ended up requesting the test for me and I got a 5 on it! With this score I will have 12 credit hours at the school I intend on going to. With that test alone I am 2 classes short of a minor in German! The moral of the story is don't skip out on tests!
6. Retake tests you failed- I will retake my Chemistry test next year because it did not reflect my true abilities since I did not study or truly prepare. So if you feel like that with any of your test do retake it. It is better to fail twice instead of not trying at all.

I wish all of you the best of luck in becoming AP scholars! 

Here are some helpful links to help you study:

• Crack AP tests
• Princeton Review
• AP practice exams
• College Board
• Ask students who have past the tests for help and tutoring if they are willing
• Khan Academy
• Crash Course with John Green
• NMSI

What to look out for...

Hey guys, so you might not know this, but I am currently applying to colleges and omg it's crazy! So obviously before I started applying, I did some research on colleges/Universities I want to go to. I've narrowed it down to 2 choices out of a long list of 30 "good" colleges. So when I was narrowing it down, I realized that there are some key factors that showed me if  the school was a good choice for me academically, socially and financially. So I want to share with you some factors to be aware of when looking at colleges:

• Pictures lie! Colleges will show you the most beautiful spots of their campus on postcards, brochures and on their websites because they want you to go to their college. Always try to go see the college in person if you can. I can't tell you how many colleges disappointed me in person! Even Harvard was disappointing....
• Admissions rate in context of graduation rate: if a college has a high admissions rate (over 50%) but a low graduation rate (below 50%) that is an indicator that many people either leave the college by transferring to another college or that maybe there aren't that many resources for people to get help to graduate. Now if you are in love with a college DO NOT change it because of this just take into consideration you might have to find somewhere to go for help that is not the college. Another reason why this is important is because sometimes it is an indicator of if a college cares about their students. If students feel like they don't have the resources to succeed and graduate of course they will transfer out or drop out.
• Do not look at rankings! Rankings change every year and yes, it is nice to go to a top 3 or top 5 school but it means very little if you want to further your education beyond a bachelors degree. If you plan on getting a PhD like me that will be the first degree on your resume people will see. That is truly the only school that will matter because of course you want your PhD from a prestigious school! The school you get your bachelors degree at should be the school that makes you look best academically! If you go to an Ivy League school, but graduate with a 2.0 GPA that isn't as good as going to a state school and getting a 4.0 and maybe even graduating Valedictorian! It's not worth it to get hung up on rankings and worry about not getting in the top school when you can maybe go to a top 100 school, graduate debt-free and have a perfect GPA. 
• Money, money, money,....  Of course, everyone wants scholarships, grants and financial aid, but some schools might not even offer them. Always check if and what kind of scholarships schools you are interested in have. Some schools might have a page like this: Trinity Scholarships or even a net price calculator like this: Net Price Calculator Trinity Also make sure that the tuition is worth it for you. If you go to a school that is $64,000 a year and you get $20,000 in scholarships is that affordable for you and is it worth it to you to maybe graduate with almost $200,000 in debt for a bachelors degree? If your family can easily do that and/or if that is your absolute dream college then do it! If not maybe you want to find a different option?
• Do not look at Faculty to Student ration rather look at average classroom size! Colleges like to advertise there 9:1 or 10:1 student to faculty ratio which can be veryyy misleading! I'm pretty sure that many other students like me see a student to faculty ratio and assume that your average class size should be 10 since there is one teacher for every then student right? Well, actually a lot of times when the ratio is 10:1 the classes can be in a range from 15-50 students in a classroom. Obviously a small student to faculty ratio is good, but a small average class size is better! Rice University average class sizes vs UTSA average class sizes
• Look at core requirement, major requirements and other requirements. If you already know what you want to major in look at your degree plan. Personally, I want to be a Biochemistry/ Biology with a concentration in Cell Biology and Spanish major. Since I want to be a double major I always try to see through the degree if it is manageable with the core requirements at a school to complete 2 majors.  The more core requirements the less time you spend concentrating on your actual degree. If you are a science major and a school wants you to have 12 credit hours in English and 12 credit hours in Art (this is an over exaggeration of course) that school might not be a good fit for you. Some schools don't even have a core curriculum and if you know you want to focus on only your major that might be a good fit for you.
• Send me your location... Personally, the most important factor I consider when looking at colleges is located. Let's be honest, if you are the type of person to get homesick maybe it isn't the best idea to move from New York to LA for college. But if you don't like living in a small town you might have to look for a big city like San Antonio. Location is a important factor of every college not just because of your own feelings, but also think about the differences in opportunities. If you want to be a Journalist and go to NYC for college you can find internships at all the big newspapers. If you want to be a Physician you might want to go somewhere in Houston because they have the biggest medical facility in the world. If you want to be a geologist maybe a more rural area would allow you to do groundbreaking research.
• Demographics: Personally, one of the first things I look at when looking at a college is Demographics. If a school only admits 20% female students, would I feel comfortable going there? Or if a school disproportionately does not admit a certain Ethnicity, or Race do I feel comfortable supporting that? No! Because college is a place to diversify your opinions and without having people of other backgrounds and ethnicity how will you be exposed to those opinions? Even if a school doesn't admit certain income classes I normally tend to move away from considering them. Especially because it is 2019 no Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Religion or anybody should be disproportionately admitted so I don't want to continue supporting schools like that. 
• Your gut feeling because it is more powerful than anything! I have looked at many schools that I wanted to be my perfect fit because they were prestigious or because they were less expensive than other schools, but none of them "felt right" to me. A month ago I actually went to visit a school that I never had seriously considered and when I walked on campus I didn't imagine myself there, I SAW myself there. My advice is don't force yourself into a school you don't love because of who knows what reason, go with your gut.
• Be realistic: With that I am not saying do not dream!!! I am saying be realistic with your options. For example, if you have a 2.5 GPA and a average ACT score you might not get into Harvard, Yale and Stanford, but maybe you will get into Dean College and Kentucky State! But always dream! If you want to go to Yale, but don't have the test scores and GPA then get amazing recommendations and make sure your essay is capturing! college acceptance calculator

I'll continue this post in a pt. 2 later on! Thank you for reading!
This is an example of Pictures lie!





Actual picture of registrar building



 

Picture used by schools website