Author: Marshal@008

Tips for the Stanford Supplemental Essays

Stanford University is keen to understand the depth and breadth of your personality, something that doesn’t reflect in your transcripts. That is why Stanford’s supplemental essays are designed to get to know you beyond the academic data. This is your chance to diversify your application. Show elements of intellectual curiosity, volunteering experience, interdisciplinary learning, reading engagement, and tell them who you truly are as an individual.

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (in <50 words)

It is okay to mention the obvious ones as long as you are able to shed light on the ‘why’. Focus on the word ‘today’. Think about present times, rather than historical events. For instance, why is the pandemic the most significant challenge faced by society today? Is it due to the reality of the inequities exposed to us? In that, you could talk about the economic, social, or political inequities. Your answer need not be related to your major, since you will probably be talking about it in the other Stanford essays.

How did you spend your last two summers? (in <50 words)

This is a straightforward question requiring a straightforward answer. With 50 words, all you need to do is mention major activities from the last two summers. Preferably, you need to talk about how you furthered your passion for your major. Generally, students undertake research, an internship, or attend a summer research program. On the other hand, you may have been exploring a country, pursuing a hobby, or taking on additional familial responsibilities. All of these fit the bill.

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (in <50 words)

Talk about your beliefs or passions through this one. If you wish you could have been at the time Simone de Beauvoir wrote the ‘Second Sex’ or during Archimedes’ ‘Eureka’ moment, tell why. Remember, this needs to be personal and relevant to you. Do not write something for the sake of sounding cool.

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (in <50 words)

This could be the essay that diversifies your application. Stanford is keen to put you into context. Who are you outside of the classroom? Are you someone who loves volunteering at an organization every weekend? What drives you to do that? What do you learn from it?

Are you a caregiver to someone in your home/community? Do you lead a reading club? Do you undertake gardening initiatives? Are you part of a cult? Just kidding about that last one. But you get the picture.

List five things that are important to you (in <50 words)

Be yourself, and list things that are important to you. Really.

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100 to 250 words)

This is the ‘intellectual vitality’ essay. Demonstrate your quirks with respect to something you are deeply passionate about. How did you truly pursue something that has come to shape you? Dive as deep as you can. Answers for this could range from undertaking lab-based research or deep reading novels from different countries or participating in tons of debates! It all boils down to your major. Choose a relevant activity that you feel you have taken to its highest level.

Read More: Stanford University acceptance rate

Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate — and us — know you better. (100 to 250 words)

Did you hear another chance at a ‘Why Stanford’ essay? Yes, you did.

You can use this prompt to talk more about why you have picked Stanford and how it could satiate your academic and extra-curricular interests. You could also talk about your major in this essay. Moreover, feel free to talk about your unique personality and what you would like to share/learn from your roommate.

For more information, read How to write Letter of recommendation and who to ask.

Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University. (in <250 words)

This is your place to shine. Talk about your unique life experiences or interests that has made you the person you are today. Choose something truly distinguishing or unique; avoid writing about things that are common. Find ways you will make distinct contributions to the Stanford community and write about those with the help of Ivy central.

October 21, 2020
University of Chicago: A Students View.

My ‘Why UChicago’ essay was longer than most newspaper articles.

Therefore, as you might’ve guessed, I arrived at the University with high expectations. My head was ringing with visions of school-wide scavenger hunts, bizarre class lists, and professors who re-enact papal elections — complete with costumes, assassinations and alliances — below the gothic spires of Rockefeller Chapel. The University of Chicago, with its traditions, quirks, and eerie resemblance to a certain wizarding school, had become almost magical in my mind.

I realized, after my first few weeks, that the true magic in University of Chicago wasn’t in these grand traditions and wacky classes. While seeing the entire school grumble out of bed at 6 am every frigid winter morning for Kuvia was astounding to say the least, what really made UChicago special is the people. Everyone has something to teach you, and they’re always excited to learn new things. They’re also incredibly passionate about their interests, so small talk isn’t something that’s heard often on campus.

These diverse passions and backgrounds really come into focus during core classes. UChicago’s core is a set of requirements across disciplines, from the arts to the physical sciences to civilization studies, aimed at instilling a broad renaissance education into their students, ensuring that no matter what they choose to pursue, they have a myriad of perspectives to draw on. These classes are also great for building community, for example, every first year is required to take a humanities class, which is limited to first year students. In these classes, students from all around the world, majoring in everything from comparative literature to Chicago studies, discuss primary texts and their effect on society. I learnt so much in these discussion based classes as it wasn’t just the professor that I was learning from, but the rich dialogue created by the diversity of perspectives in the classroom. The professors are always happy to help out, and much like the students, are usually conducting research into something remarkable (one of my professors, for instance, specialized in puppeteering practices in Afghanistan) that they’re always eager to talk about in office hours! The core was a fantastic way for me, as a bio major who loves literature, history, and theatre, to maintain my interests in college and still (hopefully) achieve my professional goals. In high school, I would email hundreds of professors for research opportunities, and never get a response. I expected finding a lab to work in to be just as hard in college, but to my surprise, the first five professors responded to me immediately, and within the week, I had a research position at a tissue engineering lab that I’m still working in now!

The university is located a short hop away from downtown Chicago, which is easily accessible (by Uber or the train or a long-ish bike ride) for a quick brunch or shopping trip. Chicago is an amazing city, and as someone who lives for food, I love how no matter where you go, you’re assured to find a delicious and wide variety (even on/near campus)! The university has gained a reputation of being where fun goes to die, in terms of academic rigor. While classes are certainly not easy, the university does offer resources that help, such as the Harper core tutors. Moreover, while Greek life isn’t as big as it is at most public universities, it is still a large part of the UChicago community. Making friends is also not as hard as I expected it to be. The university assigns you to a ‘house’ based on what dorm you’re assigned, and you can eat with them, go on house trips (to see the Chicago Bulls for free, for example) with them, or just hang out with them in the house lounge for a study break (usually with fun snacks)!

UChicago was the perfect fit for me, as someone who loves learning, no matter what the subject (well, perhaps not physics), and wanted a college experience within a city environment. I also love to read, which I would say is quite important as some core classes can be quite text-heavy. What I love most about the university is that intellectual vitality that they prize, and that lives on in every student, professor, and TA on campus. It shines through everything from the snippets of conversations about quantum computing and Egyptology overheard on the quad to the school wide traditions like Scav, where one year, students built a functioning nuclear reactor. I’ve also made friends who I feel like I’ve known all my life, who understand me on a different level, who I learn from everyday. From the classes, to the professors, to the city itself, I can easily say that there’s no better school for me.

We know what it takes to get into the top 100 colleges and working with study abroad consultants, overseas education consultants, or, as more commonly known, college counselors, can help you plan ahead and make those high school years count. Ivy Central offers exceptional focus to help you prepare for college admissions throughout the high-schooling years. Start today!

October 18, 2020
Five Tips to Help You Reach Your Study Goal
Five Tips to Help You Reach Your Study Goal

At some point in the year, just about every student I work with will comment about having deadlines that they are struggling to meet. For many, it is just a short-term challenge, but for a few, it can become a cause of stress and anxiety that impacts their new academic year and extracurricular work, as well as their relationships with those close to them.

In this article, Ivy Central will share some of the tips I use to help students manage their time and get their work done.

1. Schedule

When people are feeling the pressure of deadlines, it can be easy to focus on the most immediate task or the one they are most concerned about. My first tip is to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Your first task should be to identify the time you have available. Each day, you will have things you have to do: attend school, eat meals, go for tuition, and so on. Around these set items, you can set the agenda for what you are going to do.

Start by drawing a chart.
- On the left-hand side, list the days of the week, including Saturday and Sunday.
- Across the bottom, mark off the time in half-hour blocks, starting from the time you usually get up and finishing when you usually go to bed.
- Once you have done that, block out the times that you have regular commitments. I suggest using different colors for different activities. If you have a set pattern of homework, you can add that in.
- You should also add some time for relaxation before you go to bed. Having done that, you can clearly see what time is left for you to do your other work.
- If the pressure you are feeling is linked to a specific task or focused around a particular time, then your next task should be to build a ‘to-do list’ and then prioritize the tasks on it. List all the tasks you need to complete, together with their deadlines. Once you have built up your list, allocate them to the free time you have identified from the chart you have produced. https://slidesdocs.com/excel-sheets/study-plan
2. Break Up Big Tasks

It is natural to feel daunted when presented with a piece of work that you know is going to take a considerable amount of time. Being asked to write a 20-page research paper for two months from now might be overwhelming, but being asked to take a week to write a one-page outline of a question you would like to find the answer to is probably not so worrying. Take the same approach to any big tasks.

Think about the task as a whole and then break it down into the different steps you need to complete to get it done. Working backward from the deadline for the work to be completed, set intermediate deadlines for each step. When you have done that, put a note of the deadlines for each step into a calendar to help you keep on track.

3. Avoid Distractions

We are all surrounded by things that will distract us: mobile phones, television, social media, and many more. Eliminating these distractions can make a big difference in our effectiveness when we sit down to complete a task. Here are a few tips:
- Find a space where you can work uninterrupted, ideally a room by yourself. Put a notice on the door to let people know that you are working and don’t want to be disturbed.
- Put your mobile phone in another room. If you can’t do that, then turn off the sound and put it as far away from you as possible.
- Go to the settings on your computer and turn off notifications. You can always turn them back on when you have finished your work.
- If you have a set time when you need to finish your task, use a simple alarm clock that you can set for five minutes before you need to finish.
4. Give Yourself a Break

Very few of us can sit and do one task for hours on end, so don’t try to! Take a few minutes out now and then. It doesn’t have to be for long, but it gives us time to think, stretch, and come back with greater focus than if we just tried to push through. Some people advocate that we should build five-minute breaks into every half hour; I prefer to be a little more spontaneous.

5. Don’t Procrastinate

Procrastination is when you put off doing things that you know need to be done. There are many causes of procrastination that previous tips can help with, but it could just be that the task does not interest you, such as a homework assignment for your least favorite subject. If that sounds like you, then try this:

If it is something you don’t want to do, make it the first thing in your day. There are a couple of reasons why this works. Firstly, we are generally most productive at the start of the day. We have had a good rest, and we have not been distracted by the multitude of things that we have to deal with during a normal day. The second reason is that we know that once we have completed the task, we will be rewarded by moving on to other activities that we are more excited about.

Read More: Reasons Why You Should Journal Every Day

Some Final Thoughts

Getting the things that you need to get done is not always easy, but getting into some good habits early can help you throughout your life. There is no single answer; a technique might work for one person but not for another. Take the time to try different approaches and find what works for you and your situation. Don’t forget to reward yourself for the improvements you make.

Now is a great time to start.

https://test.tinyweb009.com/balancing-academics-extracurricular/
October 15, 2020
Your Reading Habits can help you Win your Dream College

Most colleges expect you to demonstrate critical thinking skills in numerous ways. The simple reason: they are looking at crafting a well-informed community. A typical classroom environment in the US and UK involves engaging in discussions filled with perspectives and counter-perspectives. Moreover, tons of student clubs and organizations drive the campus spirit.

Keeping this in mind, your reading skills are crucial in several ways :

Recommendation Letters

Believe it or not, your reading habits can land you a great recommendation letter. Being a reader makes you a holistic learner. It gives you the advantage of making informed class contributions to group discussions and delivering thought-provoking presentations. On the other hand, sticking to syllabus texts is unlikely to help you develop a 360 understanding of the subject matter.

Note: Most schools will allow students to submit a brag sheet or a résumé, as a compilation of their extra-curricular activities. Use this opportunity to talk about your reading (and watching) habits. Address how you have explored the breadth and depth of a subject dear to you.

Standardized Testing

Readers test better than non-readers. The ACT and SAT both involve skimming and scanning techniques to crack the exam. Most students perform well in the Math section but are unable to achieve a similar score in the Reading Section. Since reading skills develop over time, it is no wonder that students find themselves stressed about this section. This often negatively impacts their performance in such fast-paced exams, thereby emphasizing the need to be a regular reader.

College Interviews

More often than not, you will be asked to talk about the latest book/s you’ve read in your college interview. While most interviewers would offer you the option to comment on a book you’ve studied in school, they would rather have you talk about one you’ve read purely for joy or to advance your knowledge of a particular topic. This is your chance to flaunt your reading skills. Focus on key takeaways of this book and talk about how you related to it. They aren’t looking for a Google-able summary, but want to know what you made of this reading opportunity.

Supplemental Essays

An increasing number of universities are focusing on reading skills in their admissions processes. The most obvious way is to ask a supplemental essay question on your reading habits. Columbia University’s famous ‘list questions’ require you to talk about a range of books, journals, poetry, and plays from within and outside of your syllabus. Emory University asks you to talk about a ‘book, character, song, or piece of work (fiction or non-fiction)’ that represents you the best.

Interviewers with access to your essays with definitely want to know more about these reading choices. You can certainly expect follow-up questions!

Additionally, nearly all colleges will ask you to write a ‘why this major’ essay. You’ve spent hours inside and outside of school studying related subject areas, but that is hardly a distinguishing factor. On the other hand, reading a book will expose you to out-of-the-box perspectives or would have challenged existing belief systems. Feel free to talk about how a book inspired and directed you toward your major as a hook to your essay.

Core Curriculum

Many liberal arts colleges in the US have a Core Curriculum, that asks students to make ethical and philosophical considerations. As an applicant, you need to show how your understanding stretches beyond the obvious black and white. Making interdisciplinary connections in interviews and essays substantiates your genuine interest in learning, often labeling you as a stronger applicant who will add incredible value to the college rejection community.

Tips to build your reading habits

Assess your Reading Habits

While unheard of, formally assessing your reading habits is the first step to becoming a better reader. If you’re a ‘speed’ reader, you will do well on the standardized tests; but may not necessarily flourish in your IB/A level English exams. If you’re a ‘slow’ reader, you are more likely to engage in deep reading, annotating as you read sentence by sentence. To get into the Top Tier Universities, you need to be able to do both.

Read what you like

Start by reading what you like. A combination of classics and contemporary texts is sure to spike your curiosity about the subject. Then, move on to reading journals, news articles, and research papers. Engage in a variety of texts, forms, and genres. Make your reading holistic.

Become a Critical Reader

Reading is about what’s on the page; critical reading is about what’s not on the page. To become an effective reader, one needs to understand the implied meaning and implications of the text. Explore cultural, historical, and biographical contexts to go beyond the literal understanding of the literary/non-literary work.

Readers build Readers

Join forums and groups. Take an active part in discussions, and you are sure to find books aligned with your interests.

Maintain Variety

It’s important to engage in fiction and nonfiction works. That way, you’re exposed to a wide range of jargon and registers. This will most definitely translate into your own writing skills.

Write More, Ask More

Those who translate their understanding of a book into a summary or ask questions are more likely to be effective readers. Because as Stephen King said, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time (or the tools) to write.”

In short, reading habits can make or break your application to a university in several ways. The advantages are many; the disadvantages, are none!

Embark on a transformative higher education journey and elevate your path to academic success with the expert guidance and personalized support of an Ivy Central college counselor.

October 8, 2020
Who to ask for a Recommendation Letter?
It is normal for colleges to ask you to send one or more letters of recommendation as part of your college application. Applications for competitive summer programs are another occasion when you may find yourself asking Who should I ask?

Normally, what the college or summer program is looking for is an academic reference, an insight into your scholarly capabilities from those who have taught you and can comment on your approach to your academic pursuits and your overall presentation as a student.

This article will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to go about identifying who to ask in a letter and how.

Who to Ask?

Sometimes you will be asked to get a letter of recommendation from a specific subject teacher. For example, if you want to attend a summer school looking at an aspect of physics, you may be asked for a reference from either your physics or maths teacher.

More often than not, you will be asked for one or two teacher recommendations. You have probably had several teachers each year throughout school so there are lots of possible teachers to choose from. So who to choose?

You might think that the teachers in the subjects you get the best grades in should be to ones to approach, and that may well be the case, but you should think more about which teachers know you best and will be better able to describe what you are like as a student, beyond your academic grades

If you didn’t speak much and just sat in the back of the class during those classes, your teacher might not have much to say about you that couldn’t be inferred by transcripts. Instead, you should go for teachers who best know your personality, ambitions, and work ethic. These teachers are more likely to be enthusiastic about helping you out, and can probably craft a genuine, compelling letter of recommendation.

A teacher you have had across several different grades can be an excellent choice as they have overseen your academic progress for a long time and can attest to your achievements and growth more than teachers who have only had you for one year or semester.

Other teachers to consider could include:
- Any teacher that is in your intended field of study, for instance, if you plan to pursue biochemistry on a pre-med track, your biology or chemistry teacher could be a strong contender, as they have probably seen your passion in the classroom.
- Any class in which you participated more than usual, talked to the teacher after class or regularly asked questions can show how dedicated you are to learning.
- Even if you weren’t the top academic performer, the teacher may have recognized your tenacity and your strong work ethic – important qualities for a college student to have.
Whoever you choose, you need to be sure that they can write a great, personalized letter for you.

Embark on a transformative higher education journey and elevate your path to academic success with the expert guidance and personalized support of an Ivy Central college counselor.

Should You Do an English Degree? | Ivy Central
September 28, 2020
Tips for Successful Online Study

Students all over the world are having to get used to learning in a new way. Many Ivy Central students have had to adjust to online lessons so here are a few lessons to pass on to anybody who is wondering how they can make online learning work for them.

Be Positive

There is surviving and thriving, often the difference between the two is to have a positive attitude. Having to learn online might not be your choice but it is the reality that you face. A positive attitude about online learning is the best present you can give yourself. Everything you learn, whether it’s your most favourite or least favourite subject, will help you grow as a person and prepare you for your future studies.

Create your study space

Find somewhere that is your study space, somewhere that everybody knows is where you locate yourself when studying. Ideally this would be in your bedroom or a place where you can work undistracted by other people, but that might not be possible for everybody. If you don’t have your own space try to negotiate to have set times when you need it. If that is not possible then you might need to resort to using headphones to block out distractions as much as possible.

Having identified your space, make sure you have what you need. You will want a table and comfortable chair, despite what it might be called, don’t try balancing a laptop on your lap, if nothing else you will get terrible back and neck pain. Make sure there is good connectivity to the WIFI so that you have a reliable connection.

Read More: Planning for College

Organise your time

Your ability to control your time is going to be limited by the demands of your teachers, if they are conducting a lesson at a particular time, you need to be there. There are however some principles that you should try to adhere to.

·         Make sure you know when your online classes are taking place, make sure you have everything you need and join on time.

·         Your studies won’t just be when there are online classes so divide up your day and week into learning, homework and extra-curricular activities.

·         Take short breaks whenever you can. ‘Zoom Fatigue’ is a problem many students are experiencing as a result of too much time spent on computers. Try to take 5 minutes away from screens between online sessions.

You are not alone – get help when you need it.

Many students have come to the shocking realisation that they miss school, of course they miss spending time with friend’s but it is the lack of direct two way interaction with teachers and perhaps their fellow students that is more significant. This lack of interaction can result in students falling behind in their work, if you don’t understand something that you are being taught it can affect your understanding of the whole study topic.

If you are in this position the first thing should be to reach out to your teachers directly, email them and let them know that you need some extra help to understand the topic. Other approaches you might want to try is to use the resources of the internet to help you, Youtube video’s, Khan Academy or BBC Bitesize can often help explain things in a different way. Another approach might be to set up a virtual learning group of your peers where you review the work you have done with your teachers and support each other with any gaps in understanding.

Stay on track

One of the challenges of online learning is to remain focused on our work and resisting the temptations all around us. Distractions come in multiple forms and can eat away at time, schools go to great lengths to help students remain focused but at home it is down to you.

One of the biggest distractions are mobile phones, the way they ping or buzz to notify you or a new message or post is designed to distract you, they are meant to be difficult to ignore. The best way to avoid picking up your phone to check it every few minutes is to either turn it off or better still, put it away from you in another room.

Another aspect of staying on track is not falling behind with your work. Keep a log of what work you need to complete, and by when. Give each piece of work a deadline, don’t drag your feet, work to make yourself stick to the deadline. Do things on time and you will be better off in the long run.

Read More: Ivy Athletes in the Olympics-Paris

Jump around

OK you don’t have to jump, but do make sure that you get some exercise. Online learning, unsurprisingly, means lots of time online, completing lessons, doing homework, reaching out to teachers and peers. So, scheduling physical fitness into your day is also important. Physical exercise can boost your mood, energy, and brainpower.

Embark on a transformative higher education journey and elevate your path to academic success with the expert guidance and personalized support of an Ivy Central college counselor.

September 23, 2020
Top Qualities Students Should Demonstrate to Colleges.

One of the most common questions college counselors hear is, “How do I get accepted by a particular university?” While each college or university in the USA has unique criteria, some qualities are universally valued in the admissions process. Here’s a guide to help you understand what most colleges look for in applicants and how you can enhance your application:

1. Academic Excellence

Securing high grades in school remains the top priority for students. There is no denying the fact that Colleges and universities look for students with high Point Averages (GPAs). By excelling academically, students can demonstrate to colleges that they have the intellectual capability to handle high levels of coursework. Admissions officers seek such students as they are likely to continue this trend in college. Your high school transcript, showcasing your grades from Grade 9 onward, will be crucial to your application. Don’t worry if your early grades were not stellar—an upward trend in your academic performance can positively impact your application.

2. Challenging Course Load

Difficult and challenging course work such as Advanced Placement (AP) classes or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme are looked upon very positively by selective schools. They prefer applicants who have taken rigorous courses available to them. This indicates a student’s willingness to challenge themselves academically. International students who are following the national curriculum should consider taking AP exams in addition to school exams to demonstrate a strong work ethic and commitment to academic excellence.

3. Commitment to Extracurricular Activities

Rather than a long list of activities, colleges look for deep, sustained involvement in a few areas of interest. This shows your dedication and passion. Spend several hours each week on these activities and aim for long-term engagement to demonstrate your commitment. Unlocking Potential: Passion Projects for High School Students | Ivy Central

4. Leadership

Leadership is another key quality colleges seek. Whether you are a team captain, a club founder, or hold a position of authority at your school, your leadership roles highlight your ability to influence and guide others. Additionally, mentoring younger or disadvantaged students can showcase your leadership skills.

5. Strong Recommendations

Letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, coaches, or principals can provide a personal perspective on your abilities and character. Choose recommenders who know you well and can provide detailed anecdotes about your academic performance, personality, and leadership qualities.

Read More: Claremont College

6. Positive Personality and Character

Your personal statement or college admissions essay is your opportunity to showcase your personality, passions, and values. A well-crafted essay can leave a lasting impression on admissions officers, while a poorly written one can have the opposite effect. Be honest and reflective, and let your unique voice shine through.

7. Genuine Interest in the College

Demonstrating a genuine interest in the college or university can enhance your application. Engage with the school by signing up for newsletters, participating in virtual tours and webinars, and interacting with college to win representatives. Applying early decisions can also signal your commitment to a particular institution.

8. Community Service

A willingness to serve others is highly valued by colleges. Community service and a passion for helping others indicate that you will positively contribute to the campus community and beyond. Demonstrating your involvement in volunteer work and community service projects can strengthen your application.

By showcasing these qualities in your application, you can improve your chances of being admitted to even the most selective schools. Remember, each component of your application is an opportunity to present yourself as a well-rounded, dedicated, and engaged student.

September 22, 2020