How to Get Started with the College Application Process

How to Get Started with the College Application Process ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Have you thought about starting your college applications this fall? If so, you should spend some time considering which teachers you want to write your college recommendation. So much of the college applications process is based on scores, grades, and other ways of ranking students numerically. Recommendations, along with the personal statement and any supplemental essays, are an opportunity to highlight a student’s unique qualities that may not be as readily apparent from a transcript. Leadership, empathy, persistence? Those are traits a teacher recommendation can highlight to give admissions counselors a fuller picture of who you are not only as a student, but also as a person. Think about which teachers know you best and who can write eloquently about your strengths and your development over the course of high school. If you want to study economics and have taken an economics class in high school, get that teacher to vouch for your passion and talent for the subject. The same goes for chemistry, history, film, or any other topic. English teachers tend to get favored for college recommendations because they write well, but if English isn’t your best subject, consider a teacher who can speak to your abilities in other classes. A teacher who coaches a sport you play might be a good choice. That teacher may get to see another side of you outside of the classroom, and involvement in team athletics demonstrates a great deal of dedication and perseverance. There are many ways to contribute to a school’s community and culture, and colleges are looking for students who will do more than just excel academically. Find someone who can speak to your character as a leader and as a committed and enthusiastic member of your student body. If you have a favorite teacher, chances are other kids love that teacher, too. In the fall, popular teachers will be inundated with recommendation requests and likely won’t be able to say yes to everyone. Beat the rush and make asking them for a recommendation your top priority. Supply them with a copy of your resume or a summary of your course load. They may be unaware of how much work you’ve put into other classes and can include that in discussing your unique qualifications and potential for success in college. If you have specific achievements you’d like them to highlight, make sure your recommenders are aware of them before they write the recommendation. Make it as easy as possible for them without telling them exactly what to write. And be sure to thank them for the time and energy they spent extolling your virtues for the college admissions boards. A nice thank you card or even a small gift (though it is not necessary) would be a great way to show your appreciation for their support of your college admissions goals. Remember to take the extra time to think about who would be able to give a true sense of you as a student and as a potential member of a college community. Be ready to seek that person out in the fall and let them know why you are choosing them. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'a519c073-790d-4c67-b0fd-7095f1869478', {});

Navigating Student Employment Forms

Navigating Student Employment Forms Image via tirereview.com Following that, you must confirm your citizenship or immigration status by checking off one of four options. They include: citizen of the U.S., non-citizen national of the U.S., lawful permanent resident, and alien authorized to work. If you are unaware of which you qualify for, visit this link. According to uscis.gov, “Sign your name in the ‘Signature of Employee’ block and record the date you completed and signed Section 1. By signing and dating this form, you attest that the citizenship or immigration status you selected is correct and that you are aware that you may be imprisoned and/or fined for making false statements or using false documentation when completing this form.” Forms of identification will be also requested to support Section 1 of I-9. A driver’s license, passport, or social security card will do the trick. Leave the rest of the form blank for your employer to fill out. Form W-4 Along with the I-9 form, the W-4’s completion is also required for new employees. The purpose of this tax form is to figure out how much money needs to be deducted from your paycheck, called the withholding tax. According to irs.com, it “is essentially income tax that is withheld from your wages and sent directly to the IRS by your employer. In other words, it’s like a credit against the income taxes that you must pay for the year.” Image via fool.com It is important to know that your employer is required to obtain the completed form from each employee, so do not try to avoid filling it out. The W-4 also directly controls how much tax dollars are removed from your paycheck, therefore determining your tax refund. Box 1 asks for your name, box 2 for social security number, box 3 for marital status, and box 4 for any name change you recently had. (Notice both federal forms ask for your SS number, so if you do not know it, ask your parents.) After filling this information out, you will be faced with the Personal Allowances Worksheet. Read each line carefully and answer as honestly as possible. According to collegeboard.com, “You’ll be asked to decide on the number of withholding allowances you want to claim. Each allowance you claim lowers the amount of tax that your employer will withhold from your paycheck. You want to have enough tax withheld so that by the end of the year you have paid all or most of the income tax due on your yearly income.” Other forms In addition to the two federal forms, employers usually ask new hires to complete some of their own forms. These can range from a basic information sheet to a criminal background check. Depending on what specific job you are working or where, an emergency healthcare form may also be asked of you. According to labor-employment-law.lawyers.com, “You might also be asked to complete a new hire reporting form. Employers are required to report each new hire to a state agency, so that the state can identify individuals who owe child support.” Hopefully you do not have to pay child support, though. If you are working on-campus, drug/alcohol acknowledgements may require a signature from you, just to recognize that you are aware of consequences. Again, depending on your job, a form such as a key-request might be necessary to complete. There is a long list of possible paperwork. Do not forget about the basic application as well. You will have to list your name, date, address, contact information, and date of birth. In addition, most applications will ask you what your desired position is as well as pay. Information regarding your level of education and previous employment may be requested; it is essential that you do not lie on either. Make sure to leave reliable references if you do list any previous jobs. On some applications they may ask you right away regarding your weekly availability. Bottom line for all paperwork: do not lie. For example, evading your federal income taxes is a felony jail time. So carefully read and follow all instructions to avoid getting fired, not hired, or locked up.