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SWOT Analysis for Choosing the Best Course for You

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It can be difficult to choose which course to take up in college.  There are so many considerations to keep in mind, such as your interests, skills, background, and your aspirations.  What’s worse is that choosing the wrong course may result in wasted years, because this may not be the one that can fully develop your abilities and your character.  For this reason, it’s important to take some time to reflect and analyze your situation, and the SWOT test is the perfect tool for the job.  Writers of personal statement examples have done this test to help write about their goals in their admission essay and get accepted to their chosen courses.

Examples of personal statements: Evaluating yourself through strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats

The acronym “S.W.O.T.” stands for “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.  When you take a SWOT test, you analyze these four factors in an attempt to make key decisions and to form a strategy.  SWOT analysis is normally used for business ventures or projects, but you can also benefit from this to help you choose which college course would best fit your personality and your character.  Evaluate yourself by making a list.(1)  Make sure that you do so within the context of your college course, your career possibilities, and the school that you will be attending.

Personal statement examples: Getting a list of available courses that best match your skills, personality, and goals

Now that you have conducted your SWOT analysis, the next step is to take the process one step further by assessing which courses fit in with your skills, personality and goals.  There are two main ways in which you can mix and match your SWOT test results and the possible courses available.(2)  The first and more obvious way of choosing a course is to find one that fits best with your strengths and downplays your weaknesses.  On the other hand, you may want to take on the challenge of choosing a course that will develop your weaknesses.  You may want to lean toward courses that actually interest you, because when it comes down to sleepless nights trying to complete your assignments and projects, that interest may be the only thing that keeps you going.

Examples of personal statement: Deciding which course can offer the best potential for growth and career gain

Another important consideration when choosing your course is to analyze which courses will provide you with the education, training, and experience you need for personal growth and a successful career.  You may already have some practical experience in a career field that you want to pursue, so it would only make sense to choose a course that can help you in that field.  Ultimately, your goal is to find a course that will help you make the best out of your talents and skills to prepare you for your career and your future in general.(3)

(1)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysis
(2) http://www.cedu.niu.edu/aboutus/strategicPlanning/docs/knpeSWOT_Jan08.pdf
(3)  http://www.das.psu.edu/dairy/teams/planning

How Not to Get Stuck on the Admissions Wait List

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So you’ve applied to a number of colleges, but your first pick has told you that you are on their waiting list.  What should you do?  Getting on that list can be rather frustrating when all you want is to get accepted to your favorite school. Still, you should try to look at the bright side–at least you still have a chance.  The best thing for you to do is try and maximize your chance of getting off that list and into college.  Here’s how:

Be persistent but not annoying

One of the first steps toward getting accepted is to show that you are interested and that you actually do want to get admitted.(1)  Give the admission office a call to get an update on your situation and to ask if there is anything more that you can do.  Some schools will accept letters of appeal, while others strictly urge you not to send any letters of intent unless it is by their request. You may also want to let the college know about any new developments that might help your chances, such scoring higher in SAT or doing a better personal statement example.  Just remember that there is a fine line between being persistent and being annoying, and you certainly don’t want to annoy the admission committee that processes hundreds of applications and personal statement examples.(2)

Let the school know that it’s your first choice

Another way of boosting your chances to get accepted is to let the school know that it is your first choice.  You can do this by writing the school a letter, restating your interest.  Try to focus on why you want to go to the school and what makes the school a great educational institution.  Get some ideas from good examples of personal statement online.  For instance, you can say that it is a reputable business course or has a unique curriculum that you will greatly benefit from.  When writing letters like this, it’s important to avoid sucking up or sounding desperate.  Try to be objective and honest the same a way a winning personal statement example would be written.(3)

Prove that you can pay

Finally, you can also try to get off the wait list by proving that you can pay.  Some schools put applicants on the wait list because they have financial issues, such as international students who don’t have a job or anyone who can provide them financial aid.  It is important to prove to these schools that you are willing to do what it takes to pay for your tuition and other costs.  If you are at a loss to find ways to pay for your tuition, you may want to consider grants, scholarships, or loans.

(1)  http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2008/04/16/how-to-get-off-the-wait-list-and-into-college.html
(2)  http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/tp/wait-list-getting-off.htm
(3)  http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/PDFs/09-10_Appeal_Waitlist.pdf

Personal Statement Example: How to Cover up Flaws when Writing an Admission Essay

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When applying to a post-secondary school, you will probably be asked to write an admission essay of some sort.  At first, it may seem like extra work, but there are some great benefits to writing a personal statement.  Perhaps the best benefit is that you can use the essay to explain or cover up some of the flaws on your resume or transcripts.(1)  Here’s how to cover up flaws when writing your admission essay:

Infuse humor and narratives to tone down your shortcomings and failures

Some personal statement examples employ humor and narratives to downplay the shortcomings and failures of the applicants.  Using humor is a good way to diffuse the issue.  However, it is still important that the overall tone of your essay is still serious and reflective.(2)  When using narratives, it is important not to focus too much on the bad and highlight the good instead, such as how you have learned from such shortcomings and failures.

Make your failure seem like an eye-opener or life-changing experience

Another approach used in many personal statement examples is to explain how you have come to your senses as a result of going through such challenging times.  Try to concentrate on how you have come to a deeper realization of who you are, the challenges you have faced, and how certain hardships have helped you make the decision to change your life for the better. Try not to be too idealistic when taking this approach and, instead take a more mellow and sober tone.  To help you with this task, you can read a few good examples of personal statement that made it through college admission.

Use your shortcomings as source of motivation and inspiration

Another option is to discuss how such shortcomings and failures have given your the inspiration and motivation to set your life straight.  Some examples of personal statements will show you to discuss priorities and goals that have changed as a result of going through life challenges.  Mention how you have the drive to make things better for yourself and for those around you.(3)  Finally,be sure to write about how you are now motivated to make it through college and turn your life around.

(1)  http://www.foothill.edu/transfer/essay.html
(2)  http://gradschool.about.com/od/essaywriting/a/psfaq.htm
(3)  http://www.gcc.mass.edu/offices/transfer/essay_tips.html

Example of Personal Statement: Using Your Resume to Write Your Admission Essay

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When it comes to writing an admission essay, it can be difficult to think of a topic to write about and how to develop that topic.  One useful tip is to use your resume as guide.  Although your resume may just be full of bullet points, it holds a lot of information about who you are and what you have been through. Read on to learn more about how to use your resume to write a compelling admission essay.

Examples of personal statement: Create an outline of information you want to include

Before you get to writing, you may want to create an outline.  The good thing is, because your resume is probably in a timeline format, you already have a basic outline to work from.  Go over a few personal statement examples, and see how writers have probably used their resumes to reflect on their achievements and experiences.  Based on this, make an outline based on some of the most interesting points in your life or career, such as a challenging time in your life.  Remember not to choose too many things to write about, or you may not be able to go into depth about such topics.(1)

Personal statement examples: Discuss your skills and experiences from your resume in detail

Now that you have chosen some of the instances that you want to write about, you should try to focus on how you have developed as a result of these occurrences.  Talk about the experiences that you encountered, the skills that you honed, or the character traits that you have developed along the way.  Remember that you want to expound on your resume instead of merely re-enumerating your achievements.(2)

Examples of personal statements: Make substantial conclusions on how your skills and experiences make you a strong candidate

Finally, make a conclusion that brings together everything you have written about in your essay.  You have already written about certain experiences and discussed how your personality has developed throughout the years.  Now, your goal is to explain why you make a good candidate for the school you are applying to.  Avoid bragging and instead go with the flow by mentioning how your skills and experiences have prepared you to deal with the challenges of college and your life after college.(3)

(1)  http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/writing/template.html
(2)  http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/apply/essay_tips/
(3) http://www.infoplease.com/edu/fastweb/10tipsforwritingadmissionsessay.html

Top 3 Ways to Screw Up your Personal Statement Essay

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The personal statement or college admission essay is probably one of the most essential admission requirements that you will submit to the schools that you will apply to.  Not only can you use the such essays to showcase your writing skills, but it is also a chance for you to introduce yourself, your character, and your personality to the admission committee.(1)  If you want to write an excellent admission essay, then you should know what mistakes to avoid.  Here are top three fatal mistakes as seen in some bad examples of personal statements:

Writing a full-length biography of your life

The admission committee doesn’t want to know about your entire life, from birth to the present.  You have to keep your goal in mind, when writing your admission essays, that is, to introduce yourself and state why you want to go to the school you are applying to.  Based on some examples of personal statements, you can see how writers specifies how can do well in the school.(2)  Even if you have a very interesting biography, you have to make sure that the experiences and instances that you talk about are relevant to the topic at hand.

Talking about just dreams and not real experiences

Another mistake that people often commit on their college admission essay is focusing too much on their dreams and aspirations.  While some personal statement examples mention dreams and aspirations, you should also talk about the experiences that you have actually been through.  Talk about how some of the challenges and opportunities you have faced in the past have prepared you for college.  After explaining a little about your real experiences, you can then go into how you plan to use your college education to reach your future goals and aspirations.(2)

Making bad connections between experiences and goals

It is a good idea to link your experiences to your future goals, but it is important that you avoid making a bad connection. By reading examples of personal statement online, you can see how writers mention experiences that don’t actually coincide with their future plans.  When making relating your experiences with your aspirations, try to make your essay flow.  A good idea would be to briefly describe an experience, then go into how this forged certain values and virtues into your character, and then describe how such virtues and values are essential for your college life and your future in general.(3)

(1)  http://www.depauw.edu/admission/documents/college-essay.pdf
(2)  http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/application.html
(3) http://www.yale.edu/yalecol/academics/fellowships/application/essays.html

Personal Statement Examples: 3 Solid Ways to Get Admission Officers to Read Your Essay

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When applying to any post-secondary educational institution, one of the significant admission requirements is the personal statement.  It can either work for or against you, depending on how well written your essay is.  Perhaps your most important aim when composing your personal statement is to write an essay that will grab and hold the attention of the reader–the admissions committee.  So here are three sure-fire ways to get admission officers to read your essay:

Tip 1: Don’t waste time, go directly to the point

If you take some time to read a few personal statement examples, you’ll find that it should be direct to the point.  When you write your essay, try not to go around in circles or explain things too much.  Instead, try to be concise, straightforward, and honest.(1)  By keeping it simple but engaging, admission officers are more likely to keep reading.

Tip 2: ‘Show’ instead of ‘tell’

A common mistake that you will find in poorly-written examples of personal statement is that the writer simply ‘tells’ or reiterates their achievements or experiences.  However, your goal is not to enumerate your achievements, because all of that information is already in your application form and CV.  Instead, capture the reader’s attention by telling an engaging story of how the challenges in your life have helped you grow as an individual.(2)

Tip 3: Make your essays sound sincere but still interesting

It can be hard to be sincere, straightforward, and direct to the point, because doing so can sometimes result in an essay that is less interesting or downright boring, as seen in some bad personal statement examples.  Still, you can keep your reader interested by letting your personality shine through your writing.(3)  Be patient, and take time to learn from examples of personal statements that you can check out online.  This way, you can find interesting ways to write what you want to say.

(1)  http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/apply/essay_tips/
(2)  http://www.bates.edu/essay.xml
(3)  http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/application.html

Top Reasons Not to attend MBA School

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People often go on and on about how great it is to go to MBA school and earn a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.  Students from around the world apply to some of the most prestigious B-schools in the country in hopes of earning an MBA.  For those who decide against going to business school and for those whose applications got rejected by MBA schools, there isn’t much to fret about.  Here are some of the top reasons not to attend MBA school:

The recession

The current recession has sent numerous huge companies and brands tumbling down.  Plummeting along with these huge names are the bank accounts of people all around the world.  With the recent economic recession, jobs for MBA graduates have become rather iffy at best.  For example, investment bankers have lost a lot of their business due to the effects of the recession.  As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find well-paying jobs as an MBA graduate.  Besides, even if you could find a good job, it’s hard to find clients who will trust you with their money nowadays.(1)

Working around the clock

Another problem with going to MBA school is that you will be working towards a career and lifestyle that is constantly filled with stress.  Sure, endless hours are spent by doctors who save lives and lawyers who deal with legal cases, but businessmen and bankers have to handle the stress of turning over multi-million dollar deals.  A lot of the time, the careers that MBA graduates end up in are those that fill their lives with work and stress.(2)

The pressure to achieve more

One of the perks of getting an MBA degree is that you can work your way towards a relatively well-paying job.  The problem is, you may never feel as though your accomplishments are enough.  The competitive nature of many business schools out there leaves graduates in constant competition with their colleagues, co-workers, and other business grads.  When you end up hearing all of the success stories of past classmates, it is easy to get caught up in the pressure and competition, making you feel inadequate or unappreciative of your own achievements.

Mounting expenses

MBA schools pose another problem: cost.  MBA schools usually get away with charging an arm and a leg, because they promise that an MBA degree will help you to earn big.  The problem is, you’ll probably start out with a huge debt, as you borrow money to get through B-school.  After earning your degree, you’ll probably spend a number of years just working to pay-off your debts and loans.  Next thing you know, you’re working to pay off a new car, a house and lot, or a new yacht.  In the end, you forget about all of the great ideals that you had about what you would do as an MBA graduate.  It all becomes an endless cycle of paying off expenses and debts.(3)

Next time you consider taking up an MBA degree, give it some good thought, because you may just end up a victim of one of these reasons not to go to MBA school.

(1)  http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/B-School/In-Recession-US-MBA-Students.html
(2)  http://gradschool.about.com/cs/new/a/studentstress.htm
(3)  http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/13263.html

How To Make an Exceptional Resume

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Your resume will be one of the first things that admissions committees and possible employers get to see from you. Resumes outline the experience, training, and education that you have had which is relevant to the field you are entering into. As a main component of your application package, it is important to make an exceptional resume; here are a few things to keep in mind in writing that resume.

Keep it concise

It can be tempting to write down all of your educational and professional accomplishments on your resume. Still, you have to consider how many resumes employers have to go through. Keep your resume concise by going straight to the point and keeping things short – one to two pages should be all you need. You can use bullet points for each accomplishment and skip the long explanation. If the readers have any questions, they can be answered during the interview.

Read, revise, and get and advice

Once you have finished making your resume, be sure to read it over a few times. Take a break from making your resume, revisit it and see what revisions you can make. Here are some simple tips on how to revise your resume:

* Make sure there are no grammatical, spelling, or syntax errors.
* Try not to sound redundant by avoiding repetitive words or phrases.
* Be honest and confident, but avoid sounding boastful.
* Make sure that all information is relevant, true, and complete.

After you have revised your resume and you think it is ready for submission, seek the advice of colleagues, friends, relatives and guidance counselors. Have them read your resume and give you their comments and suggestions. Make changes appropriately.

Tying in your resume with your application package

Once you have finished your resume, you will want to compile it with all of your other application requirements. If asked for a personal statement, you can use the essay to explain how the experience, training, and education mentioned in your resume has impacted you as a person. Use examples of personal statements to get an idea of what employers and admissions committees look for. You can also get ideas, themes, and topics from examples of personal statement available online.

Two Tips to Effectively Balance Academics and Romantic Relationships

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Romantic relationships can undeniably be considered as life’s icing on the cake. Relationships give you a euphoria and enable you to surpass challenges especially during those grueling years in school. However, there are times when romantic relationships must take a back seat as school work begins to pile up. So for you to effectively keep up with the demands in school and in your relationship, remember to do the following:

Maintain constant communication with your partner

Communication is one of the most essential factors in a relationship. Without communication, couples tend to break up. So, even if you are busy in school, spare time to keep in touch with your partner. Communication doesn’t have to take hours. Even daily text messages and thirty-minute phone calls are enough to keep the lines open and active. In addition, save Saturday or Sunday as your “us” day, having no other appointments or tasks other than to spend time with your girlfriend or boyfriend.

Of course, school work becomes more important than relationships, at times. But it would be such a waste to disregard an already developing or established romantic relationship just for the sake of finishing school requirements. Spending time to communicate with your partner works to your advantage, too, because you can use it to unwind, enjoy, and get your energy back as you balance your school and social life.

Plan your schedule and manage your time

The more priorities you have, the more you need to make a schedule and manage your time. By doing so, you can pay undivided attention to the people and activities you value most. Also, should you need to spend more time accomplishing school requirements, you can give your partner a heads up on days you will be busy if you have a schedule. If your time is well-managed, you get enough time to do activities you enjoy, to rest, and to study efficiently for your classes.

Prestige: A Criterion in Choosing Schools

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People have different criteria in choosing the best schools for themselves or for their children. Among the criteria are the location of the school, tuition, courses offered, religious orientation, and student population. Gender orientation and school popularity are, at times, also criteria people use in selecting educational institutions. On top of these deciding factors, however, the prestige of a school is often the most important for many people. Below are reasons people choose prestigious schools.

Reason 1 – Prestigious schools mean the best quality of education

The first reason is true for many educational institutions, but, it does not apply to all. Time can change the status and quality of education in schools and one that is known previously as a top-notch institution may no longer be so on the following years. Nevertheless, a school earns its reputation if it offers quality education.

The people that make up the faculty in prestigious schools are some of the most learned professors and instructors in varying fields of interests. The management of prestigious schools invest on the said educators so that students get holistic education and become well-prepared for their careers. In addition, through the guidance of learned educators, students enrolled in prestigious schools become more knowledgeable in the industries they choose to enter.

Reason 2 –  Prestigious schools give students an edge while job hunting

One of the factors employers look at when reading resumes is the schools applicants come from. If applicants graduated from the best schools, they make it to the short lists or are hired immediately. Sometimes, too, even if applicants do not have all the essential credentials for a position, they get the job because of the schools they came from. The mindset of employers toward schools explains why parents and students consider prestige and reputation as criteria for selecting schools.

Of course, other criteria in choosing schools are as important as prestige. But if the selection process leads you to deciding only on two very good schools, opt for the one that can help you go farther in your education and career. Despite the odds, the knowledge and training you will get from a prestigious institution is worth it in the end.