Admissions Expertise Can students speed up the recommendation letter process and still get great results? Give your teachers something to work with. Don’t just expect them to know your life and academic history by rote. Along with the official letter forms, provide them with a resume or a mini-bio, and make sure to include important elements like Honors/AP/IB classes you’ve taken, extracurriculars you’re involved in, major essays or projects you’ve done for their class, a list of classes you’ve taken with them (if there are more than one) and when, any awards you’ve won (history day, debate team, etc), what sort of college program(s) you are applying to, and any leadership roles you’ve held, such as clubs, sports, lab groups, and more. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. How do I manage my student loans? During your senior year, make a list of all the loans you’ll have to pay off once you’re through with school, including credit card debt and any other costs you may have incurred while in college. This will help you prioritize your debts and will let you evaluate which of your balances have the highest interest rates. Generally, private loans and credit card balances will have the highest rates, so focus your energy on eliminating these debts first while making the minimum payments on your other balances. This is the most efficient way to tackle your financial obligations and will save you tons of money in the long run. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What are great ways to manage time effectively while taking standardized tests? Take notes on Reading Comprehension passages. You’re allowed to write in your booklet for a reason. Feel free to underline key sentences and jot down main ideas. It might seem like a waste of time, but if you take notes in such a way that you can easily reference key points in the passage, it may actually end up saving you time. How? Well, when a question asks about a particular point, but does not tell you exactly where to look in the passage, what will happen if you haven't taken notes? Right—you'll waste time rereading a good portion of the passage. Try out different strategies and take the time to develop a note-taking strategy that works for you. You’ll be grateful for it on test day! Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What are the best ways to land an internship? Getting a paid internship isn’t all about luck, although some luck is definitely involved. Like most endeavors in life, it’s about preparation and work. Paid internships can sometimes be few and far between, but the best plan of attack is to prepare as much as possible. There are a lot of students out there looking for the same position you are and you have to stand out. Sometimes this means dressing up when it’s not required, showing up to work even when you’re feeling sick, and yes, asking for more work. Whatever you need to do, do it. It may sometimes seem like a hassle, but when you’re raking in cash while your friends are getting nothing but a few credits, it’ll be well worth it. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What are the best ways to answer the question: Tell me about yourself? Be careful of adding in an obscure "what most people don't know about me is...." in order to make yourself "memorable." It’s a risky proposition unless it is something (a) you truly have in common with the interviewer (did you Google your interviewer or do you see that prized autographed baseball in his office?) or (b) relevant to an applicable quality, e.g. "my hobby is making model ships", then emphasize your attention to detail and patient persistence. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. How can I help my kid manage the stress of the application process? Start the application process early and break it down into small, manageable steps. Creating and sticking to a timeline is a tremendous help in preventing the stress that comes with procrastination. The summer following junior year of high school is often an ideal time to complete applications and write college essays. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed.