Improve your chances of getting into college,

This is a great question. It simply depends on the schools you are applying to and their qualifications. If the schools you are applying to are difficult to be accepted to (i.e. Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale), and your qualifications to get into the school are not top tier, you may consider applying to many (say 10 - including schools outside of the Ivy League).

Now, if you are applying outside of the Ivy League, and you are top tier in academics, athletics, volunteering, and work outside of school, then your chances of getting into a school of your choice (again, outside of the Ivy League) are high. So you may only apply to a few (say 3).

There is a lot to consider, but don't put a lot of time into applying to schools that are beyond your qualifications, and in the same breath I will add: don't sell yourself short if you are brilliant, talented, and versatile -- apply to your dream school in addition to other great schools.

This is a common problem. Sometimes funds are short for a number of reasons, or the school is too far to visit, but there are a few solutions.

First, visit the schools website. Look at the department website you may be interested in, and try to investigate what the department is highlighting among student and faculty's work.

Second, you can request information from the admissions department. Usually, there is a line that is designated "request information" on the schools homepage.

Third, you may consider chatting with someone online. Some schools offer a "chat with us" link in which you will have an opportunity to ask questions that may be determining factors in whether you apply or attend the school.

Lastly, try to contact someone who is attending or teaching at the school you are interested in. A lot of the time the best "inside scoop" comes from a direct source, so contact a friend who may be attending or even a friend of a friend to get a student's perspective. Additionally, if seriously interested, you may email a professor within the department of your choice and ask them for a moment of their time to get some academic questions answered. Many professors are busy, but most professors are passionate about their work and would be happy to answer some quick questions through email or even over the phone. You can easily search the department of your choice for a list of emails. Simply, send a brief email introducing yourself, and ask them if they mind answering a few questions for you. If they say "yes," great! If they say "no," don't fret; just ask another professor.

Though it may seem impossible to go to a school without money coming out of mom and dad's pockets, there are a number of ways that school can be affordable for you. Here are a few options:

1. Apply for grants -- most colleges and universities have links on their financial aid websites that direct you in applying for grants. Grants are a great way to pay for a portion of your tuition.

2. Apply for scholarships -- there are a number of scholarships available based on your performance in high school, as well as scholarships that are as simple as writing a brief essay.

3. Apply for student loans -- this is the dreaded option, but it gives you an opportunity to still attend school and pay for it on your own (with interest, of course). If you choose this option, try to get only the amount you actually need.

4. Visit the financial aid office -- you can do this in person, over the phone, or on the web. Just ask for a few options based on your situation.

It is VERY important to have someone proofread your essays.

In addition to proofreading your work yourself (and I always recommend proofreading out loud), it is important to have a new set of eyes that can proofread your work for errors which pertain to grammar, structure, and/or ideas.

When you have someone else proofread your work, they can tell you where you have made a mistake or where something is unclear. This will give you an opportunity, as the writer, to make corrections to your essay before it is reviewed by a committee or your instructor.

Proofreading can help you avoid being overlooked by college admissions or help you avoid receiving a poor grade on an assignment, so make sure to allot time for proofreading.

ALWAYS have someone (a peer, roommate, parent, sibling, teacher, mentor, or tutoring instructor) proofread your essays prior to submission.

There are FOUR essential components in preparing a great college essay:

1. A great college essay always starts with a great topic.

What does that mean? Something people are interested in?

Not necessarily. A great topic should always be something YOU are passionate about. How many times during high school were you told to write about something you were not really interested in? Probably more than enough. Well, a college essay gives you the opportunity to explore areas that matter most to you.

No matter what course you are in, you should be able to dissect the material to find issues, controversies, or facts that speak to your personality. When that happens, take it and run with it. Use those "wow, I didn't know that" moments to develop an essay that would be enjoyable to write.

2. A great college essay always includes a clear thesis statement.

Thesis statements can and should act as the road map for your essay. It should present the purpose of your writing, it should be clear and understandable, and it should make your reader interested in what you have written.

To achieve this, I often rely on a thesis formula. The formula is structured as such:

SUBJECT --> CLAIM --> DIRECTION --> UNIVERSAL IDEA

The subject - your chosen topic

Claim - what is important about the topic

Direction - how you will focus the attention of your essay

Universal idea - why your intended audience will find your essay important

Example:

In THE LION KING, Directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff adequately convey the importance of family ties through stylistic narration, emotional appeal, and complex character development.

Here, the subject is THE LION KING (and the directors). The claim is that they are conveying something about the film. The direction is "through stylistic narration, emotional appeal, and complex character development," and the universal idea is "the importance of family ties."

Notice that your thesis does not have to follow the order of the thesis formula, but it should include all the elements of the formula.

3. A great college essay always has a catchy introduction and conclusion.

You always want to grab your readers' attention with something that will make them want to continue reading your work. Statistics, quotes, or a narrative are always good places to start.

In the same way, you always want to leave your reader with something to remember, so the conclusion is just as important. Provide your reader with some closure and don't leave them hanging.

4. A great college essay is always organized.

Be sure that your essay follows the structure you have provided in your introduction and/or thesis statement. If you say you will discuss a,b,c, and d, don't talk about them throughout your paper as d, b, a, and c.

Remember to include topic sentences that reflect your thesis statement which will help act as a guide for great organization.

There are certainly more things that you can do to make your essay even better, but these FOUR elements will give you solid foundation for a great college essay.

More often than not, arts majors (like myself) are criticized by their peers, parents, and community. Questions frequently asked by them usually dance around: "What can you become with that?" My answer is always: probably a lot more than anyone would ever expect or recognize.

Arts majors -- dancers, artists, actors, creative writers, and the like -- have numerous opportunities to commit their skills to fields outside of performance; however, the most fulfilling career path that is applicable to any arts major is teaching.

One can choose to instruct children or adults to dance, paint/draw, act, or write. Primary, secondary, and collegiate levels of education look for people who have a passion for their skills and can enhance the skills of others through teaching. In addition to those venues, there are special institutions which seek out those who have received a B.A., M.A., and/or Ph.D. in specified fields in the arts in order to teach in their schools.

What better way to use your major than to assist someone in further developing the skills you enjoy most?

Yes! You can get a Master's degree in a different subject, but it is up to you to convince the admissions committee of why you should be admitted. I am a living example of this situation. As an undergraduate student, I studied Exercise Sports Science and received a B.S. in that field. Later, I decided that I was more interested in English, so I applied to a Master's program and explained why I was interested and committed to the field. Later, I received my M.A. in English. It is absolutely possible.

Social media is quickly growing as a medium of communicating with students, but it is something that is completely unavoidable considering the connections people outside of college make through social networks like Facebook or Twitter.

In fact, some classes in college require students to join Facebook groups related to the course. The group is used to promote discussion outside of the classroom regarding material learned in the classroom. it gives students an opportunity to apply their everyday experiences to the course by way of immediate posts or tweets.

Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), some instructors use this means of communication to assess students' participation just as they would assess the students' participation in the classroom. So be sure to be just as active or more active on the social media site to improve your overall grade in the class.