Mistakes I made my first year in college and how you can do better

 Hello everyone. Long time no read, huh? Sorry I have been away for almost a year but as you might know last year was my first year in college and with COVID-19 it was crazy. As you all also know, I am now a Senior in college since I received my associates last August so reflecting on the year that just past I wanted to give you some advice. 

So here is a list of mistakes I made in my first year of college and how you can do better!

1. Apply to scholarships year round. So something I was not expecting at all was how little scholarships I was going to be eligible for once I no longer was in high school. It seriously went from thousands to a couple dozen. Scholarships for college students in my experience have way more requirements such as major, concentration, career interest and even more. Out of the 200 some scholarships on my college's scholarship board I was literally eligible for 2... and one of them I couldn't apply for because I needed work experience in the PR field to reflect on in the essay and well the scholarship was due a month before I started my PR internship. The other scholarship I was eligible for was for only $900. Of course that is better than nothing but it's not as much as you'd hope for. With such a narrow pool of scholarships it is important to apply year round and always keep your eye open for opportunities. Thankfully, I ended up getting an internship with a stipend of about $3,500 and I still have my academic scholarship so I will be fine, but if you depend on scholarships and financial aid to go to school, you need to seriously consider taking an hour each week to apply or try and find scholarships for college students.

2. Work experience. I made a minor mistake when it came to work experience and college so I want to share it with you so you can learn from me. College obviously is expensive and many of us work to pay for it or for our living expenses. I did too and I still do. My big mistake was that I was more focused on working and my cost of living than on my resume. So now, I am a communication major with a concentration in PR who has 2 years of relevant work experience in teaching and childcare but only one internship in PR. Instead of keeping on looking for jobs that suit my career goals and plans after graduating, I went for a guaranteed teaching job as an early childhood teacher. Personally, I don't regret it because I love my students but if you have the ability and luxury to be able to shop around for jobs and wait for one that will actually build your resume for your future careers, I would. I am a senior now, and luckily I have had wonderful internships which taught me many skills but if I didn't have these it would be a major back set and I'd have to start from the bottom once I graduate.

3. Don't listen to other people's methods of doing things unless it helps you. My first semester was hard, I am not going to lie about this. I am going to say though that it was only hard because I was trying to follow everyone's advice on planners, time management, schedules, reading books, taking notes and anything else you can think of. After awhile I realized that I was fine but what was actually not working was the methods people were giving me. So big takeaway here is that no one really knows what they're doing and the only real challenge is finding the right thing to do for you. You don't need to force yourself to have a planner if it's only going to stress you more. You don't need to write notes for every chapter if you don't think you do. You need to follow your intuition and then everything will work out. 

4. Don't live checklist to checklist. With the feeling of being overwhelmed I often hang on to the only way I know to control things which are checklists. My first few months of college I made a big mistake by living checklist to checklist. I literally did not give myself the time to enjoy college. College is an experience and while GPA and studying matters, please don't forget the exciting things like walking around campus or going to a coffee shop. Personally, I found the cutest little Boba shop to do some of my readings at and even though COVID-19 ruined traveling during Spring Break I still got to go to a river to go hiking near SA. Don't forget to actually experience college, because I almost did in my first semester.

~~~Alright, I know that was a lot but I hope it helps. I also have some exciting news! I am creating a new resource list to include both high school and college level scholarships! I will post it soon so keep an eye out for that! Lastly, HAPPY SUMMER AND STAY SAFE FROM COVID!

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?

Minor vs Major

Hey guys, welcome back to the blog! So today I am going to answer so big misconceptions that everyone including myself has had about the Minors and Majors in college.

Let me start of with a question: How many credit hours do you get from most classes except for labs?

I'm sure you knew that it was 3. And I am sure you know that labs such as Chemistry 1 lab are 1 credit hour because most of the times they are complimentary to the main lecture class.
Fun Fact: I found out last week that for most colleges the class number's (you know the 1302 English) second number is normally the number of credit hours you earn through the class. So if your class is BIOL 1106 you receive 1 credit hour and most likely it is a lab class that compliments your main lecture class.

Sooo, anyway back to the main subject: Minor vs. Major.
Some friends of mine have ask me about the differences, what they should get and what's easier. So let me start of with the fact that the answers to those questions are very dependent of what job you want in the future. If you want to be in business maybe get a major in business and minor in a foreign language or communication or whatever compliments your professional goals. Personally, I want to be a Biochemist who does research in Alzheimer's so I will major in Biology with a concentration in molecular and Cell Biology but I am also planning on majoring in Spanish. Why in Spanish? Because of the fact that I think it is a very interesting language and it is one of the fastest growing languages. Most recent breakthroughs in medical science have been in Spanish speaking countries especially Mexico. That is why these to majors are right for me. If you do not know yet what you want to do please do some research, talk to professionals, get internships to test the field, because you should know what you are working for hen you enter college.
major vs. minor college degrees

So without further ado:

Minor	Major
Requires about 18 credit hours Example Minors	Requires about 120 credit hours  Typical Degree Plan
Minors do not give you a Bachelor's degree, but they do give you a diploma (in most cases).	Degree: Bachelor's degree (B.A., B.S., B.B.,B.A.A.S. etc.)
Many majors do not require perquisites	Most majors at least 15+ hours of Major requirement that have to be completed on top of core requirements before you can start classes that actually pertain to your major
Minors often compliment you Major with a quick overview of key elements	Majors give you more time within a subject/ go more in dept
Minors look good on a resume	Your major is the most important part of your resume
Your college might not offer them in the subject area you are interested in	You should pick a college that offers the major you want
You can get a Master's degree from a minor	You will look like a better candidate when applying to a master's degree pertaining to your major
2-1 concept: if you have 1 major you should get 2 minors	2-1 concept: if you have 1 minor you should get 2 majors

Thank you guys I hope this helped somebody!

Dorm essentials

Hey guys I know a lot of people are currently moving into dorms or are preparing to, so I thought why not make a list of dorm essentials and where to find them for a good price!

1. Bedding
2. Study Lamp
3. Towels
4. Shoe Storage
5. Storage Bins
6. Laundry Hamper
7. Laundry detergent and softener
8. Dishes- Mugs, Plates, Silverware (Ikea often times has $1 dishes in there clearance section that are very high quality)
9. Shower Caddy
10. Reusable Water bottle
11. Backpack
12. Batteries
13. Extension cords
14. Umbrella 
15. Iron & Ironing board
16. Light bulbs
17. Flashlight
18. Paper towels and other cleaning supplies
19. Garbage bags/ Garbage can
20. Portable charger
21. Bath rug 
22. Shower shoes
23. First Aid Kit- with pain killers and vitamins
24. Shower curtain
25. Toiletries- Shampoo, Conditioner, Body wash, deodorant, makeup, lotion,... etc.
26. Appliances based on availability of them at college- Coffee maker/ Mini Fridge/ Microwave
27. Dish soap
28. Decorations- lights, posters, mirrors, plants, throw pillows, tapestry or anything that makes you feel more comfortable and at home
29. Dry erase board or calendar
30. Desk organizers
31. Clothes Hangers
32. Fan- if your college does not have A/C's such as colleges in the North or New England

Some helpful websites for shopping or inspiration:

• Dormify
• Target College Checklist
• Bed Bath and Beyond
• College dorm essentials
• OMC Dormlife
• Sand Cloud
• HP
• Costco
• Wayfair
• The Container Store
• Etsy

If you feel like I missed anything or you know any other good resources, make sure to comment down below and I will make sure to check them out and add them to the list!