Can I Reuse The Same Essay On A Different Application?

Can I Reuse The Same Essay On A Different Application? Low scores should never be a veto on a student’s life. Students should have confidence that if they practice their math and reading skills, they will improve, which is exactly what we are seeing when students practice for free on Khan Academy. Students should take an exam once and, if they don’t like their scores, practice and take the test once more. Once senior year begins in the fall, there is less and less time to focus on this very important task. It’s never too early to start saving for college with a part-time job. Set a goal that students get to spend half of their paycheck on anything they want if they also save half for college. Juggling a job while in high school also shows initiative and responsibility to college admissions counselors. And while the Varsity Blues admissions scandal shines a light on families that break the rules, it’s time to consider the unhappiness of families that play by them. While competition for seats may be inevitable, students scramble to do ever more to get into collegeâ€"and give away more of their childhood to do so. Collecting a few scholarships for $500 each could pay for books for a year or more. Since many students believe that “Senior Year” begins as soon as junior year ends, we’re taking advantage of that! Summer is a great time to begin the personal essay. Even if a student is attending summer school, they have a lot of free time. Research schools and keep a list of those that match a student’s interest. They should also take into account what kinds of programs and majors schools offer that might be of interest. High school seniors are not the only people who should be thinking about college. The Harvard researcher Richard Weissbourd is right to demand that college applications honor the work some students do to support their families. For lower-income students, it is defeating to ask them for a long list of activities outside class. We need to do all we can to ensure that they have the time, resources, and space to pursue passions in-depth outside classâ€"but also not penalize them if work and family obligations get in the way. Beginning freshman year of high school, there are many things that students and parents can start working on. From grades, activities, and courses to college applications and financial aid, we have you covered with the college planning checklist. We need to change the culture around exams such as the SAT. They should never be more than one factor in an admissions decision. They require a depth of commitment that will serve students well throughout their lives. And yet nearly nothing in the admissions process tells students that these are the keys to their success. Having listened to hundreds of admissions officers, school counselors, parents, and students, and after reflecting on my own experience, I believe there is a healthier model to prepare young people to excel. There are durable ways to invest in children that will help them thrive in college and beyond. The crazed pursuit of college admissions helps no one thrive. This is also the time to think seriously about what kind of college the student would like to attend after graduation. Is a large university far from home appealing, or would they prefer a smaller college close by? MIT recently revised its application to include only four spaces for extracurricular activities, and admissions officials there are evaluating whether they can move to three. Brilliantly, the school also removed the space for students to put any activities from ninth grade on their application. From MIT’s point of view, ninth grade is a safe harborâ€"a year to change your mind, to try different things without regard to your track record. These three shared features are all about intensityâ€"not just participation in college life, but active engagement. They require students to move beyond merely doing something and toward becoming devoted to something. If they still don’t like their scores, we should offer many other ways for them to show their strengths to admissions officers. Time is one of the great inequalities in our society.