Take Your Search Online
You can also check out search engines such as RoomSurf.com to help you widen your roommate search. Sign up, complete your profile, take the quiz, and find the perfect match for you. You can then pick a roommate and send your submission to your individual school. It’s a foolproof way to find someone you think you might actually be able to live with. Apps like Roomie are also available to swipe left and right on potential roommates.
You can always opt to go random and have your college select a roommate for you too. Sometimes this works out better than you could have ever imaginedthough sometimes it doesnt. It’s definitely the easiest option, but it can be stressful. Knowing ahead of time if you’re going to get along with your new roommate can cut some of that anxiety and stress, so dont be afraid to reach out to them before move-in day to get to know them.
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Student Review And Testimonial Sites
Review websites, just like Yelp, exist for higher education too, and they can be a great way to get to know your potential colleges a little better.;That being said, they can also be a hotbed for stressed-out and misinformed students , so take what you read with a grain of salt. Use multiple review sites and look for patterns to get a sense of what life is;really;like at a collegebeyond what they tell you in a picture-perfect brochure or on an official campus visit.
College Confidential is a popular option, but youll also find student reviews on sites like Niche, Unigo, and;Cappex.
Post Flyers On Campus
It may seem like a strange thing to do, but good old-fashioned print marketing can be quite effective. If you’ve exhausted all your other options, print up a few flyers and hang them in high-visibility areas around campus. In your flyer, make it clear that you’re looking for a roommate with certain qualities. Be honest about who you are and what you want.
Does the thought of strangers contacting you creep you out? Don’t worrythere are things you can do to protect yourself and your safety. If you don’t want to include personal information, create an email address specifically for the flyer. That way you can screen your responses without anyone having access to your phone number, address, or social media accounts.
Related:;5 Tips for Picking a First-Year Roommate;
Finding the ideal college roommate can be a challenge. But if you know where to look and know what you’re looking for, it won’t be that hard after all. It may seem like a hopeless task in the beginning, but if you follow these tips and tricks, you’re sure to find a match that’s perfect for you. Be persistent and put some time into the process. Your perfect roommate is out thereyou just need to know how to find them!
We can help with the college search too. Start looking for your dream school on CollegeXpress!
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Create A Compelling Rsum
Your résumé is your calling card for any paid internship. As a college student, you may not have a lot of work experience. If thats the case, you should consider creating a skills-based résumé that highlights what you can do.
Youll still need to list your employers and provide references, but a skills résumé offers you the opportunity to talk about what you can do. For example, you might be a horticulture major with extensive gardening experience that makes you the perfect fit for a paid internship at a nursery. Even if you dont have experience working in your chosen field, you do have skills that could make you an ideal employee.
How To Identify Your Personal College Fit
Defining a good college fit takes research. Not the kind of research you do for a term paper, but a combination of visiting colleges, talking to people, researching facts, and consulting with your counselor and parents. Eventually, you will know enough to recognize a good college fit when you find it. Bear in mind that there is probably no one perfect college. In fact, there are likely to be more than a few colleges that will suit you well.
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How To Find The Perfect Paid Internship For College Students
Landing a paid internship is a goal for many college students in the United States. Internships are plentiful, but a lot of them are unpaid. They can still provide good work experience in your chosen field, but they wont do anything to help you defray your expenses or save money.
One of the things we pride ourselves on at Addition Financial is helping families prepare for college. That means talking to parents and students about college savings plans, student loans, and budgeting. We often get asked how to find paid internships for college students. Here are some tips to help you find the paid internship you want.
Why Take Expert Guidance On Achieving A Good Gre Score
From personalised attention to getting all your doubts cleared by industry professionals, expert guidance can only help you get your target;GRE score. Let us find out why you must consider taking the help of experts when preparing for the GRE:
Advice from Result-Oriented Experienced Mentors: With years of experience in the fields, GRE experts are capable of giving you exactly the right advice to not just help you improve your GRE score but also to make you aware of the likely pitfalls along the entire process, from preparing to taking the exam. Experts will further navigate your progress, identify your strengths and weaknesses and help you prepare for the test accordingly. You would never feel alone in the process and receive constant motivation from experts who have been in your shoes before.;;
Tailored Schedules: Whatever you do and howsoever time you can find to prepare for the GRE, experts will ensure that your requirements are met according to your schedule. Usually, what happens is, we take the GRE when we are;working simultaneously, giving us way less time to plan our study and scope to concentrate on achieving our target score. Let alone the time to look at the grad schools we would like to attend or be a part of. In addition, your study plan will be handcrafted on the basis of the time you are left with before your test date. The experts will tell you just which parts of the GRE syllabus you have to emphasise on.
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Fill Out Your Application
The most competitive paid internships often require an application in addition to a résumé and cover letter. If thats the case for your chosen internship, you should plan on filling out your application as soon as possible.
Its important to find ways to make yourself stand out from the other applicants for the internship in question. We dont recommend using gimmicks, but you should think carefully about the words you choose and how you present yourself. Its also extremely important to proofread everything. If spelling and grammar arent your strong suits, hire a proofreader to handle it for you. One spelling error could ruin your application and its better to pay someone a few dollars to edit your submission than it is to lose out because of a mistake.
What Are Your Career Goals
After digging into what youre interested in and potential careers options, its time to think about your goals and your future careerand how easy or how hard it might be to find employment.
If you have a specific career goal in mind, you might need to pick your major or program in advance, sometimes as early as when youre applying to college.
Its also good to know what degree youll need for the field that interests you. Heres an overview of different college degrees:
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What If You Cant Decide On A Major
Its okay to enter college as an undecided major. You dont have to know what you want to major in during your major search process. College gives you the opportunity to take classes you think you might enjoy or even classes youve never been exposed to before.
Volunteer and find internships. Internships and volunteer work are the best ways to get real hands-on experience in fields a major can lead to. Youll get a great understanding of what day-to-day life in the profession is like. If you can, talk to people in different departments to see if their work interests you.
Events at local colleges/college visits. You can learn a lot from visiting colleges or attending events on campus. Colleges have open houses or accepted student days where department representatives answer questions and offer you their knowledge. There are also students around you can talk to about their major and class experiences in the major.
Can You Change Your Major
You can absolutely change your major in college.Studies find that most students change majors at least once and many students switch several times. No matter what year youre in, sometimes the major you declare doesnt end up being the right one. If you decide to change your major, make sure the credits you need align with your expected graduation date. Go to your counselor for guidance on picking a new major and setting up your schedule.
Its a big decision, but you know yourself and your interests better than anyone. Remember, when choosing a major, the most important thing is to make sure youre happy and clear about your priorities for your life and career after college.
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What Makes A College Right For You Anyway
First things first: there is almost certainly more than one right college for you. Some might be reach schools, some might be safeties. In any case, when youre searching for colleges, try to remember what college should be. It’s a place where:
- You’re comfortable being yourselfbut also challenged to be better.
- You find people to talk with late into the nightwhether its because you totally agree with each other or youre debating something you care about.
- You have opportunities to study things that fascinate you, play the sports you want to play, work at internships that help clarify your career plans, and join the clubs you want to joinand you are expected to take advantage of those opportunities, because they wont just fall in your lap.
- You learn how to learn, communicate well, and solve problemsskills all employers want to see, no matter what industry.
- And you can get this kind of education without breaking the bank and taking on crazy amounts of student debt.
Speaking of college costs, heres the dirty little secret: because there are so many schools out there and a variety of financial aid to be had, you can almost always find a college that meets your needs and your budget.
Even if you’ve dreamed of going to a certain college your whole life, not checking out your other options is a mistake. Finding your perfect college match takes time and effort, but;it’s worth it in the end
When Do You Declare A Major
Generally at most four-year colleges you dont have to decide on a major until the end of your sophomore year. This gives you time to try a couple of classes and see what you like before you decide, and earn general education credits that count toward your degree. Keep in mind, certain fields and programs require an early commitment so you can take all the required classes and graduate on time.
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Is College Worth The Cost
Cost Some schools will cost more than others. Some will be much less expensive than others per year, but not much different by the time you graduate. Its essential to choose a school that fits your budget. Take a look at the debt load of graduating students from your college? What percent of students receive financial aid, and how much? And, based on the pandemic and the stress that has put on colleges, what is the schools endowment?
Some people say that picking a college is like finding the perfect pair of shoes, but theres more to it than just sizing! You want to attend a school where you will be valued for your unique skills and passions. That means not only picking the right size but also the right fit.
To ultimately end up at the right school, you must consider everything, academic, personal, financial, and several other components. In the end, picking the perfect college for you is part science and part instinct. Let me provide you with the proper guidelines so you can ultimately make the best decision for yourself!
What Major In College Do You Want To Study
Programs What is the focus of your college? Is it known for specific programs, such as medical sciences or computer technology, or is it more generalized? Does the college offer special programs and advanced degrees in my major of choice? Is there only one degree in your major, or does the department offer several different degrees in that field of study? Does your major require additional classes that will prolong graduation?
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Decide Where You Want To Study In The Us
One of the important factors when choosing a US university is also the location. Yes, you dream about studying in the US, but each state and city has its own personality, unique culture, climate, economy, history and more. Some states are more popular among international students than others. Take a look at our state guides to help you gather more information and make your choice.
How To Know When A College Is Right
In the end, of course, an ideal college is not just a bunch of factors. Many students say that the moment they realize a college is a great fit, it’s as if they have discovered a new home. Such a college should:
- Give you an academic program that serves your goals
- Provide instruction that works with how you like to learn
- Offer a level of rigor appropriate for your preparation and aptitude
- Offer you a community in which you can thrive
- Value you for what you have to offer
When all the pieces come together, it’s just as much a heartfelt insight as it is a logical decision.
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Attend University Fairs Virtual Events Or Online Information Sessions
To find out more about the US universities you are interested in, you may be lucky enough to be able to actually visit the US and check out the institutions in person. Alternatively, you could meet university representatives at university fairs in a city close to where you live. As an international student, online methods of communication can be especially helpful. We recommend that you attend virtual university fairs or online information sessions, such as the QS World University Tour #StudyinUSA virtual fair, where you can connect directly with university representatives and students right from your home.
As you can see, once you make a strong plan and focus on researching your best options, making your dream become reality doesnt seem so complicated anymore. Good luck in your research!
This article was originally published in December 2015.It was last updated in April 2021
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The College Matches You Academically
You want to be challenged in college, but being in over your head is stressful. Likewise, if your academic ability is much higher than other students, you may feel bored or our of place.
Its important to look for colleges where your academic profile is similar to other students.
If you are interested in honors coursework, make sure the college has a strong honors program. You can contact an honors program directly for more information.
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How To Read Your Quiz Results
The College Match Quiz yields a list of college options for you. Ranked by how well they match your data, the list blends a Fit score and Return on Education score.
Fit Score: It gives a 30% weight to structure, 30% weight to admissibility and 40% to intrinsic. This part matches schools with your preferences. So, it is all about location, number of students, interests and learning style. Measured on a 0% to 100% scale, strong fits scores are those in the 80% to 90% range.
Return on Education score: To get the ROE, the list pulls in the net costs of the schools. Net cost equals * by .
Then, balances it with PayScale data. PayScale data relates to minus . The final number is an annual rate of return percent. High ROEs are in the 8% to 11% range.
Each school on the list has your match score in a thumbs up. Ranging from 1 to 5, the more thumbs up you see, the better the school matches your answers. In other words, the perfect colleges for you are those that get the most thumbs up.
There is also a button where you can see reviews and ratings of each school. Plus, other details to make it easier for you to decide on the perfect college. You may also be able to sort through the results on the list. Filter by Match Score, or by cost for a very streamlined college search process.
Cost Financial Aid And Affordability
It can be a big mistake to start your college search by excluding certain schools because they have an expensive price tag . Of course, for most students and their families, college affordability will weigh heavily on their decision-making process.
However, the initial sticker price you see will seldom be the final price you pay. Most colleges and universities realize they need to help students afford their education. And financial aid changes everything. In fact, you might find the pricey school that seemed out of reach is actually your most affordable option once you get their financial aid award letter.
College students get financial support through a wide range of sources, such as academic scholarships, special ability awards , diversity grants , or on-campus employment . Students also get money based on the results of their FAFSA and/or the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE .
Also, pay attention to the freshman-to-sophomore retention rate and the four-year graduation rate in your college cost research, because they often signify a schools true value. For example, a “cheaper” school may be less of a bargain if a low percentage of students actually graduate in four years. And a more expensive school with a higher four-year graduation rate may actually be the better value.
Questions to ask
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