Maximize Summer Break to Win Scholarships

Mind the Gaps Assessing Strengths and WeaknessYour child cant build a plan if they dont recognize from where they are starting. Like we cover in our free webinar (which you can sign up for here!), your student needs to aim for a balance between good grades and being involved in other activities. Often, scholarship applications ask students to write essays about their experiences, and may or may not factor their grades into the equation. While having a strong academic background is critical for college success, good grades arent the end all, be all in the scholarship game.Here is a chart we use in The Scholarship System Course to help students understand where they should ideally fall on the involvement and grade spectrum:Ideally, your child should aim for good grades and a well-rounded approach to other experiences. Now, this doesnt mean they have to be everything under the sun. In fact, trying to pull that off may do more harm than good if they stretch themselves too thin and, subs equently, underperform across the board. Instead of trying to do everythingto maximize summer break, have them pick an activity or two that peaks their interest, works with the schedule, and will serve as great scholarship application material.In the end, its better if they do a couple of things exceptionally well (without letting their grades fall) than to take on too much and experience mediocre results.So, make sure your student reviews what they currently have under their belt and what they should work on during the summer. If their involvement is high, but their grades arent great, then studying should take priority over finding new activities. However, if their grades are strong (and they dont have to be perfect to be strong), then its time to get involved in something new to boost their scholarship potential.Get Involved!If involvement is what your student needs to tackle to maximize summer break, it can be tricky to figure out where they should start. Luckily, were here to h elp you and your child out. Here are some of the most popular and effective ways to build up their experience for winning scholarships.Part-Time Jobs to Maximize Summer BreakOne scholarship judge told us that students should get a job. Even if its baby-sitting, pet sitting or mowing lawns, it shows initiative. A part-time job is a classic way to gain new skills while also letting them earn a little side money. Since the goal is to maximize their summer break and if keeping a job during the school year might not be plausible, it might be wise to explore short-term or highly flexible options.You may be wondering, where can my child find a part-time job just to maximize summer break? Here are some great places to check:Park DepartmentsMost local parks have programs that operate only during the summer, and many will welcome younger workers into their midst during this busy season. For example, city swimming pools often need lifeguards and other workers, or some parks may bring on extra ground crews.Yes, the work might not be glamorous, but it is a job with a definitive end date that offers valuable working experience and even the ability to spend some time in the sun.Amusement and Water ParksAnother business that thrives in the summer and dies down once school is back in session is the amusement and water park industry. Again, these businesses are often open to hiring teens and young adults, even if they have limited previous experience. Plus, employee discounts and potentially free friends and family tickets mean these jobs can come with some fun perks too.Temp AgenciesIf your child is 18, then signing up with a temp agency can be a great way to get some intermittent work without the commitment of a formal job. Often, they can take advantage of more than one assignment over the summer, using the time to explore different types of work and businesses, creating great opportunities to learn on the job and gain new perspectives on the working world. Plus, when summer is over, they simply stop taking new assignments. Easy, peasy, done.Food IndustryWorking in the food industry is a skill that is easily transferrable. Customer service, multi-tasking, managing money and more, your child can learn many life skills while waiting tables. The food industry is also often very flexible, letting college students pick up shifts when they come home over breaks. Itd be great to build rapport with a decent restaurant sooner than later.Maximize Summer Break with VolunteeringFor students looking to gain experience in a particular area, volunteering may be the ideal way to spend their summer break. Most nonprofits are always interested in finding people who can lend a hand, so it may be easier to land these positions than formal jobs. Plus, your child may be able to target a particular organization or even a skill area that particularly appeals to them.For example, animal lovers may appreciate spending time at a no-kill shelter, spending time with dogs and cats that need socialization and exercise to help make them more adoptable. It can also be a great option for aspiring veterinarians or students focused on life sciences.Got a future nurse or doctor in your house? Then the Red Cross or local hospital might be great places for them to volunteer.Is your child interested in supporting social services? Maybe they should volunteer at a local homeless shelter, food bank, or soup kitchen.To help them find the right summer break volunteer opportunity, consider their current or future college major and research nonprofits with similar missions. If you want to see what may be a good match in your or your childs local area, check out VolunteerMatch.org. Simply tell the site what your student cares about (including if they want to target particular skills!) and tell them where you live. Then, see if any of the results sound like a good match.Shadowing and MentorshipsIn some cases, your student may be able to gain some on-the-job style experience in the field they wish to pursue by looking for a job shadowing or mentorship opportunity in the industry. This approach is similar to volunteering but tends to be in for-profit organizations.Obtaining these summer break opportunities often requires legwork. So, have your child find area companies that operate in their preferred industry and start reaching out. Yes, it can feel a bit like cold calling, but it gives them a chance to practice pitching their capabilities and expressing their interest in the work. As a bonus, it can help them build a network too.If they arent sure who to speak too, then starting with the human resources department is often a wise choice. However, if they know someone working in the field and can make that personal connection to find opportunities, thats fine too. The purpose is to get out there and take advantage of fairly organic learning options, so even if they only find very short-term shadowing positions, it can still be a great summer break experienc e.Build the Essay BankScholarships and college applications often require essays, and there is nothing to say that some of the writing cant be handled over summer break. In fact, some scholarships for the next college school year open in August, so they can be part of the earliest group of applicants.Now, many students would ask, how can I start writing essays if I dont have the official topics?Well, its actually pretty easy. Many scholarships use common subjects for their essays, so writing about these in advance often pays off. Here are some of the most popular topics:Personal achievementsOvercoming challengesPersons who have inspired youBooks that have inspired youWhy you want to go to college/study a particular subjectYour child can find other themes with a simple internet search, so encourage them to dig in now to maximize summer break!And did you know children as young as 4 years old can apply for scholarships? Thats one of the topics I talk about in my free webinar. If you wa nt to join me for the next one, click here to find out when we are holding the next one or go to www.thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinarResearch Scholarships at Target CollegesMany colleges and universities have scholarship programs for their students and basic information about the application process are often available on the schools website all year round. Additionally, the deadlines for these awards are typically different from application due dates, so it is wise to collect the information early so your child can apply. You can also check the criteria and see what your child needs to meet to receive the awards. For example, if they have a specific ACT or SAT score, your child can start working towards that now.If the application process is standardized, then theres no reason your student cant start collecting everything they need today. And, if it requires an essay, starting early gives them extra time to create a piece that is sure to impress.Maximize Summer Break by Getting Started Now Summer break. It is a classic time for rest and relaxation, especially for the high school and college students in your life. But failing to see it as an opportunity to get ahead with scholarship applications means your child is missing out. Choosing to maximize summer break to build a scholarship-worthy resume is just a smart move especially since most students arent under the same academic pressure during this season.The key to maximizing a summer break to win scholarships is taking an organized approach. That way, the work can be comfortably spread out, and activities that require steps early on can be given priority. To help your student plan well, here are some steps to get them started.Mind the Gaps Assessing Strengths and WeaknessYour child cant build a plan if they dont recognize from where they are starting. Like we cover in our free webinar (which you can sign up for here!), your student needs to aim for a balance between good grades and being involved in other activities. Often, scholarship applications ask students to write essays about their experiences, and may or may not factor their grades into the equation. While having a strong academic background is critical for college success, good grades arent the end all, be all in the scholarship game.Here is a chart we use in The Scholarship System Course to help students understand where they should ideally fall on the involvement and grade spectrum:Ideally, your child should aim for good grades and a well-rounded approach to other experiences. Now, this doesnt mean they have to be everything under the sun. In fact, trying to pull that off may do more harm than good if they stretch themselves too thin and, subsequently, underperform across the board. Instead of trying to do everythingto maximize summer break, have them pick an activity or two that peaks their interest, works with the schedule, and will serve as great scholarship application material.In the end, its better if they do a couple of things exceptionally well (without letting their grades fall) than to take on too much and experience mediocre results.So, make sure your student reviews what they currently have under their belt and what they should work on during the summer. If their involvement is high, but their grades arent great, then studying should take priority over finding new activities. However, if their grades are strong (and they dont have to be perfect to be strong), then its time to get involved in something new to boost their scholarship potential.Get Involved!If involvement is what your student needs to tackle to maximize summer break, it can be tricky to figure out where they should start. Luckily, were here to help you and your child out. Here are some of the most popular and effective ways to build up their experience for winning scholarships.Part-Time Jobs to Maximize Summer BreakOne scholarship judge told us that students should get a job. Even if its baby-sitting, pet sitting or mowing lawns, it sh ows initiative. A part-time job is a classic way to gain new skills while also letting them earn a little side money. Since the goal is to maximize their summer break and if keeping a job during the school year might not be plausible, it might be wise to explore short-term or highly flexible options.You may be wondering, where can my child find a part-time job just to maximize summer break? Here are some great places to check:Park DepartmentsMost local parks have programs that operate only during the summer, and many will welcome younger workers into their midst during this busy season. For example, city swimming pools often need lifeguards and other workers, or some parks may bring on extra ground crews.Yes, the work might not be glamorous, but it is a job with a definitive end date that offers valuable working experience and even the ability to spend some time in the sun.Amusement and Water ParksAnother business that thrives in the summer and dies down once school is back in sessi on is the amusement and water park industry. Again, these businesses are often open to hiring teens and young adults, even if they have limited previous experience. Plus, employee discounts and potentially free friends and family tickets mean these jobs can come with some fun perks too.Temp AgenciesIf your child is 18, then signing up with a temp agency can be a great way to get some intermittent work without the commitment of a formal job. Often, they can take advantage of more than one assignment over the summer, using the time to explore different types of work and businesses, creating great opportunities to learn on the job and gain new perspectives on the working world. Plus, when summer is over, they simply stop taking new assignments. Easy, peasy, done.Food IndustryWorking in the food industry is a skill that is easily transferrable. Customer service, multi-tasking, managing money and more, your child can learn many life skills while waiting tables. The food industry is also often very flexible, letting college students pick up shifts when they come home over breaks. Itd be great to build rapport with a decent restaurant sooner than later.Maximize Summer Break with VolunteeringFor students looking to gain experience in a particular area, volunteering may be the ideal way to spend their summer break. Most nonprofits are always interested in finding people who can lend a hand, so it may be easier to land these positions than formal jobs. Plus, your child may be able to target a particular organization or even a skill area that particularly appeals to them.For example, animal lovers may appreciate spending time at a no-kill shelter, spending time with dogs and cats that need socialization and exercise to help make them more adoptable. It can also be a great option for aspiring veterinarians or students focused on life sciences.Got a future nurse or doctor in your house? Then the Red Cross or local hospital might be great places for them to volunteer.Is you r child interested in supporting social services? Maybe they should volunteer at a local homeless shelter, food bank, or soup kitchen.To help them find the right summer break volunteer opportunity, consider their current or future college major and research nonprofits with similar missions. If you want to see what may be a good match in your or your childs local area, check out VolunteerMatch.org. Simply tell the site what your student cares about (including if they want to target particular skills!) and tell them where you live. Then, see if any of the results sound like a good match.Shadowing and MentorshipsIn some cases, your student may be able to gain some on-the-job style experience in the field they wish to pursue by looking for a job shadowing or mentorship opportunity in the industry. This approach is similar to volunteering but tends to be in for-profit organizations.Obtaining these summer break opportunities often requires legwork. So, have your child find area companies that operate in their preferred industry and start reaching out. Yes, it can feel a bit like cold calling, but it gives them a chance to practice pitching their capabilities and expressing their interest in the work. As a bonus, it can help them build a network too.If they arent sure who to speak too, then starting with the human resources department is often a wise choice. However, if they know someone working in the field and can make that personal connection to find opportunities, thats fine too. The purpose is to get out there and take advantage of fairly organic learning options, so even if they only find very short-term shadowing positions, it can still be a great summer break experience.Build the Essay BankScholarships and college applications often require essays, and there is nothing to say that some of the writing cant be handled over summer break. In fact, some scholarships for the next college school year open in August, so they can be part of the earliest group of appli cants.Now, many students would ask, how can I start writing essays if I dont have the official topics?Well, its actually pretty easy. Many scholarships use common subjects for their essays, so writing about these in advance often pays off. Here are some of the most popular topics:Personal achievementsOvercoming challengesPersons who have inspired youBooks that have inspired youWhy you want to go to college/study a particular subjectYour child can find other themes with a simple internet search, so encourage them to dig in now to maximize summer break!And did you know children as young as 4 years old can apply for scholarships? Thats one of the topics I talk about in my free webinar. If you want to join me for the next one, click here to find out when we are holding the next one or go to www.thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinarResearch Scholarships at Target CollegesMany colleges and universities have scholarship programs for their students and basic information about the application process are often available on the schools website all year round. Additionally, the deadlines for these awards are typically different from application due dates, so it is wise to collect the information early so your child can apply. You can also check the criteria and see what your child needs to meet to receive the awards. For example, if they have a specific ACT or SAT score, your child can start working towards that now.If the application process is standardized, then theres no reason your student cant start collecting everything they need today. And, if it requires an essay, starting early gives them extra time to create a piece that is sure to impress.Maximize Summer Break by Getting Started NowFor most students, summer break has either just started or is only around the corner. By getting a jump on things now, they can maximize summer break and their scholarship potential before the next school year starts. And, when it comes to scholarship funds, getting started now can b e the key to success.

Affirmative Action Case

Affirmative Action Case June 24, 2013 The affirmative action case before the Supreme Court is headed back to an appeals court. The Supreme Court of the United States of America has voted on the latest affirmative action case before the highest court in the land. With a 7-1 vote, the Supreme Court told an appeals court that their precedent was misinterpreted with respect to reviewing the affirmative action policy at the University of Texas at Austin. So what does this mean in the grand scheme of college admissions and the practice of affirmative action, you ask? According to Ryan J. Reillys piece in The Huffington Post on the affirmative action case, The decision is a provisional victory for Abigail Fisher, a white woman who claimed that UT-Austin unconstitutionally discriminated against her after the states flagship university rejected her application in 2008 under its race-conscious admissions program. UT-Austin will now have a much more difficult job of proving its program constitutional under the standard the Supreme Court clarified on Monday.  Justice Elena Kagan, the former dean of Harvard Law School, recused herself, presumably due to her involvement with the case while she served as President Barack Obamas first solicitor general. So the Supreme Courts 7-1 vote could well prove to shake up the world of college admissions. Round 1 to Abigail Fisher. Have a question on affirmative action in college admissions? Let us know your questions by posting below! We look forward to hearing from you.