Thanksgiving may have come and gone, but if you celebrated hard enough this past week, you might still have some leftover food lying around. College applications are just like Thanksgiving dinner: there’s too much to finish at one sitting ! The good news is that post-holiday leftovers don’t have to scarfed down in one bite – and your leftover college applications don’t need to be all wrapped in one evening either. (Of course, if you have a November 30 deadline, we hope you’ve got that taken care of by now!)

Here’s how you can make your leftover college applications tasks less daunting and more manageable.

Make Lists

Lists make life easier. You don’t have to just take our word for it, you can read this article on why they not only help you, but are good for you.

Making a list is somewhat like arranging all the thanksgiving leftovers on the table so you can figure out what you’re going to do with them and when (the cookies will keep for a while, but you may want to eat those sweet potatoes soon!). Just knowing all the items that need to be done (finish essay, get recommendations, confirm safety schools) will make you feel you’re in control, which is a great feeling.

What lists do you need? You could make a list for each college you’re applying to, so you can take care of each of their requirements, though you could combine them into one big one so you can see all your to-dos together. Be sure to leave room to write comments and check them off! By the way, even if you make digital lists, it might be visually more powerful to print them out and have them up on your wall or somewhere you can see them. Even simple color coding with highlighters will make the list more manageable.

Schedule Time

Making a list of things to be done is not enough, you have to get them done! With all kinds of deadlines and different amounts of work to do on each application, creating a schedule is an enormously helpful way to keep yourself on track.

Also, the next month is about more than just your college apps. You’ll still have school assignments, and extracurriculars and finals coming up that you want to finish on a strong note.

The goal is balance: don’t cram for your finals now and leave your college apps for the break or vice versa. Build in a bit of work on each of them every week for these next few weeks so that you can enjoy your well-deserved time off this winter and get your apps done on time!

Do Reviews

Double check everything! Start with your lists – did you include everything? Is something missing? And then do the same for your schedule.You don’t want your energy and hard work to be wasted by a simple forgotten deadline. January 1^st is a common application deadline, but there are plenty of exceptions to the norm out there. So make sure to triple check the dates!

Have you allotted enough time? Are you forgetting a family or social commitment that you have to honor? If you have a family member who can help you review your to-do list, enlist their help, it is always good to have a fresh pair of eyes to spot anything you may have missed.

Of course, you’ll have to review your applications too. Have you answered the questions correctly? It is not unheard of for students to misunderstand a question or answer the wrong one.

College essays are rarely perfect from the beginning, but it’s up to you to revisit your work and think about outside criticism and consider implementing outside suggestions. This includes not only feedback from counselors but also others that may not have read your essays yet (friends may not be the best reviewers!), so that you can get a feel for what a college admissions officer would be likely to take away from your writing. Even better, if you can, get your essay reviewed in depth by experts who know what admissions officers look for – check out Meemli for a great, affordable option for expert review. Keep revising and revisiting your essays until you’ve sculpted them to perfection.

With so much to review, it might to create a summary checklist reminding you of what you should look at daily too!

 

With any luck, your Thanksgiving break should have included enough time to recharge your batteries for the home stretch of the college application process. Use that energy to keep on top of your assignments and finish strong – second semester is right around the corner!

Do you have favorite coping strategies for post-Thanksgiving leftover work? We’d love to hear about them!

 

Blog

After almost three months of hard work at school, Fall Break has finally arrived for students! But at Thanksgiving college bound students can be overwhelmed by working on college applications and essays. We at Meemli know it can be difficult to stay thankful, let alone enjoy your well-deserved holiday with looming deadlines and assignments – but we can also show you how you can do both!

 

 

There are just two simple things that you need to do to reduce stress, get your work done and also enjoy yourself.

Plan It

You’ve heard this one before – if you want to manage your stress, make a plan! Seriously, given your workload, if you want to enjoy the holiday, you have to make time for it. Start by making a schedule for your college application work and well as other schoolwork, and then add in some time to spend with your family and friends. Most importantly, schedule in some “me-time” – and don’t forget to catch up on sleep if you’re running low. Your application output will be so much better if you’re not frazzled!

 

Give Thanks

The best thing you can do to this holiday? Give thanks! Feeling grateful is important to not only give you perspective, but believe us, it will make you feel better too! Here are some things to appreciate a little extra this week, whether at the holiday meal or just personally, on your own.

Opportunities

If you’re in a position to be applying to college, consider yourself very fortunate as not every teen is able to do so. At college, you’ll have educational, social and networking opportunities that will help you in your future careers as well as life in general. You will go a long way into becoming a productive, competent adult and have fun in the process. So while the application process can be stressful, keep in mind how lucky you are to be able to go after the rewards of a college experience!

Family

Your family has undoubtedly played a role in supporting your journey to college, and will likely continue to be part of your support network well into college. The holidays are a time to spend with family. This Thanksgiving take a moment to appreciate all that your family is doing for you, physically, mentally, emotionally and of course financially, as you prepare to go to college. Maybe it’ll inspire you to help them out a little with the cooking and cleanup too!

Advisors

Applying to college can be complicated and confusing at times. Fortunately, you probably have teachers, counselors and advisors to help you navigate the murky waters of college apps. Without help, the college app process will be even more daunting. These people work hard to help you, so send them a thank-you message this Thanksgiving!

Friends

Where would you be without your friends? They can relate to your challenges during this stressful time because they’re going through it themselves. It’s not just a case of “misery loves company”, going through a shared experience with friends gives you much-needed emotional support. So take a minute to thank the friends who’re there for you!

Resources

As you probably have experienced by now, pretty much everything you need to know for applying to college can be found online  – from virtual tours of campuses, to how to fill out application forms. There are many wonderful resources that are available to you at your fingertips – can you imagine that even about 15 years ago much of the information was not readily available and “going online for help” was not a thing? Now you can find something or someone to help you in any aspect. (Check out Meemli’s expert review of your college essay to polish it up!)

 

Depending on where you end up going to college, you may not be able to come home for next year’s Thanksgiving, so soak in this year’s holiday as much as possible. Go ahead, make sure to give thanks, chill out, take pictures, and eat way too much!

 

Do you have tips for a Thanksgiving college-bound students can enjoy? Let us know! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Blog

Boo! With Halloween right around the corner, there are plenty of fake scares and fears to indulge in. Also, this is the time of year when the reality of college applications sneaks up on you, but don’t let that haunt you. Though they seem scary (and are real, not fake), you don’t have to fear college applications. Read on for tips to help with some of the scarier aspects of college applications.

Here are some common fears and how to defuse them.

Too Many Choices!

There are hundreds of schools, how do you choose? First, you don’t have to apply to all of them, even all the “good ones”! Talk to a college counselor to get some help generating a list of schools best suited to you. Look for programs you’re interested in, and try to create a healthy mix of reach, target, and safety schools so you can focus your efforts.

Plenty of information exists online about most schools and their programs, so make sure to do your research thoroughly on schools that you’re interested in. However, it’s important to understand that colleges use their websites to market themselves, and try to portray themselves in the best light possible online. To get a better understanding of what a school or program is really like, it’s always a good idea to get the inside scoop from an alumni or current student. Check with the colleges or your counselor to see if they can help you get in touch with alumni from the schools you’re looking at!

Deadlines Are Closing In!

With all the deadlines flying around, applying to college, while still doing your schoolwork, can seem overwhelming. Since some schools have different deadlines than others, it’s important to stay on top of your schedule. So make a plan! Start by writing down exactly what’s due and when, and make sure you include any supplemental requirements (double check!). Then, create a work schedule by carving out time in advance to work on each of your requirements. Finally, make sure you have a checklist, so you can keep track of your progress and ensure you don’t leave anything out!

A good approach is to work with friends to motivate each other and make sure that everyone is sticking to their schedules. To make the most of this approach, try and find friends that are applying to some of the same schools as you, so you can help each other stay on top of requirements!

They Won’t Like My Essay(s)!

Your essay is definitely an important part of any college application, so it’s understandable to have some anxiety about how it might be received by admissions officers. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources at your disposal to help you write the best essay possible. There are some some tips to reduce the fear of writing your college essay, here’s our list of top ideas.

After deciding your topic and drafting your essay, be sure to have others (like your counselor) read it and give you feedback. Go through at least a few drafts to really hone your essay’s message and tone. Look for resources where you can get outside guidance – by the way, check out how Meemli can help!

 

You don’t have to fear college applications, after all, millions of students like you have done them successfully. Keeping these tips in mind can help you have a fun, stress-free Halloween as well as college application experience. Just watch out for the candy monster!

 

Blog

There are many reasons why writing your college essay may be a daunting task – maybe essays are not your strong point, or maybe you just don’t know how to get started writing about yourself. Maybe the fact that the essay is important to admissions officers is not helping. Regardless of why you’re worried, what’s important is that you take care of the worry. The Meemli team believes that getting help for your college application essay is a great idea and recommends you give it serious consideration!

Here’s why.

Everybody Does It

Well, almost everybody. Getting help with your college application essay is not just if you’re not a strong writer, or you’re uber-competitive and/or paranoid about failure. We all know students who get help with various subjects and also test prep (SAT, ACT) because their schools may not have the resources to help every student in every area they need some guidance. This extends to writing personal statements too.

Clearly having someone else write your essay is dishonest, just like having someone take your tests for you. It also harms you as it destroys your confidence in your abilities. But, that doesn’t mean you should not ask for any help. You have the capacity in you to tackle writing your personal essay yourself, but rest assured that it is ethical, and smart, to get some guidance in doing it to the best of  your ability.

You Will Write Better

Do you ask your parents, siblings, trusted teachers to review your essay?That’s often the first step that many students take in getting some help with their essay. And it is great to get their feedback as they can do the initial vetting on how it sounds. But you can’t expect them to give you “expert” feedback unless they happen to be English teachers, or involved in college admissions, and you can be sure their personalized feedback is based on the essay, not what they know about you.

The right kind of help will not only improve your college essay, but it will also make you more skilled in writing essays in general – a skill you’ll need in college and in most careers. Good writing is increasingly important is it can showcase critical thinking and persuasive reasoning.

You Can Reduce Stress

Not to increase the pressure, but there is a lot riding on your personal statement. There are many items you have to take into account in writing a winning essay – from picking the prompt/topic to rules of grammar and elements of style. Understandably, the burden of making sure you’ve done it right can seem too heavy to bear.

Do yourself a favor. Applying to college is not like a walk in the park, so wherever you can, try to reduce your stress. Having someone knowledgeable guiding you makes you feel more confident that you can handle this challenge.

Getting help for your college application essay is a great idea, but it is also important that you get the kind of help that suits you. And of course, you should get it in time. If your application deadlines are less than three months away, you should probably start looking for help right now.(Note, Meemli believes this is an important service we can offer students and have some options you can check out here.)

Another easy tip: follow us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook to get weekly tips and other useful information – and helpful motivation –  for your college admission essay!

Blog

You already know that you have to pay a lot of attention to academics when in high school, and you’d have been encouraged to join extracurricular programs too. A service project is a volunteer effort focused on addressing specific issue in your community. Signing up for high school service projects is an excellent idea – read on to learn more.

 

Here’s why we recommend all students get involved in school service projects.

Know The Real World

Between social media and the bubble that is your own school, you may not have an understanding of the problems people face out in the world. A community project brings you face-to-face with real people dealing with real issues and helps you examine yourself, your values and what’s really important.

Whether you’re helping the environment, or young kids, or the elderly or the ill, you learn first hand about the challenges communities have to deal with and you also learn how they can be solved. These kinds of experiences may even help you in deciding your future career!

Develop People Skills

Connecting to the community through a school service project brings you in touch with many different people, from those who organize and run these services, to those who’re helped by the services and others like you who are helping deliver the services. Networking with professionals and making new friends

This benefits you in a couple of ways. First, you develop compassion and empathy, traits that will make you a kinder, more caring person as you go through life. Second, you learn interpersonal skills when dealing with a variety of people, not just the ones you see at school. And, you have a chance to develop leadership skills as you work with a team to help solve problems.

Prep For College and Career 

We’ve mentioned this before  – showing an interest in helping others will make a positive impression on college admissions officers.  Colleges are keen on recruiting students who care about other people, whether it’s in their local communities, or at a national or even global level. Involvement in service projects, especially if you do it for an extended period of time, definitely shows that you truly care.

Your experience in school service projects will make a different when you apply for jobs too. Employers favor candidates who’ve shown a consistent interest in being involved in helping the community. They know that it shows good teamwork and leadership skills. So volunteering now helps your future efforts!

Feel Good!

This is the best part. Helping others can actually help you. It makes you feel good to know that you’ve made a positive difference to someone and their life is a little better because of you!

Most of the service projects are set up in such a way that you can immediately see the results of your work: feeding someone in a soup kitchen, helping little kids learn to read, cleaning up a park etc. So unlike long term efforts (like going through four years of high school for example!), you can see tangible results of your actions pretty quickly. This gives you a feeling of accomplishment and success pretty much every time you volunteer!

 

Service projects are not only another choice for an extracurricular activity, they can also better prepare you for college, career and life in general. And to top it off, they give you a chance to do good and feel good – which gives you a great reason to join one, don’t you agree?

 

 

 

Blog

Soon after the school year gets into full swing, the extracurricular activities and the drive to sign up for them comes to the forefront. Your high school and local community likely offers a variety of non-academic, off-the-curriculum opportunities for activities that you can get involved with. Of course, you are not required to participate in any, but believe us, you should!

 

 

Here are the top 5 reasons why you should have at least one or two extracurricular activities, even if you feel you’re swamped with schoolwork!

Develop Your Passions

Is there an activity that you are already crazy about? Joining a team or club that aligns with your passions and interests is a great way for you to spend more time doing what you love! If you enjoy sports, try out for team. If you dream of building a droid, join the robotics team!

You can discuss what you are good at or what you enjoy doing with your school counselors and they can help you find an activity that best fits your wants and needs. If your school doesn’t have what you want, check out other community options like parks and recreation offerings or local gyms and clubs.

Learn Something New

Have you always wanted to try something and have never had the chance? Maybe you’ve always chosen athletics but would love to check out theater and acting. Or maybe you’re intrigued by how it would be to join a dance or glee club. Go ahead, give it a shot!

Now’s the time to engage in new experiences and figure out how much you like them with very little risk. You can always change your mind!

Be Social

Extracurriculars at school are a great way to hang out with friends and also meet new people and connections along the way. School clubs are often one of the best ways to develop interpersonal skills as they involve leadership and working together as a team. Plus, you’ll have many opportunities to celebrate (party!) wins and events with your group!

Prepare For College

You’ve probably heard this before, but colleges do look for more than academics when reviewing your transcript for admissions. They want to see that you are actively participating in extracurricular activities and are putting yourself out there, and it gives colleges a better of idea of who you are.

It is not a question of how many, but which activities you choose and how deeply involved you were in them. Read this to find out more about how colleges view extracurriculars.

Enjoy Yourself

High school can be stressful if you are not used to it. Participating in extracurriculars will help you not only survive high school, but also enjoy it.

Sports and exercise have been proven to boost your self-esteem and overall happiness. Not into sports? Getting involved in a club that you are interested in such as yearbook, student council, drama, choir and so on will greatly enrich your teen years!

Become A Well-rounded Person

Life is about more than academics. Take this time to do what you love and explore new things! Many adults have discovered their passions or a lifelong hobby by participating in extracurricular activity at high school. You’ have a chance to sample some of the experiences that make life more enjoyable and rich – and, of course, less routine and boring!

 

School is supposed to prepare you for life. And while writing essays and preparing for biology tests are very important, there are opportunities to learn life skills outside the classroom too. What’s your favorite extracurricular activity at school? Share with us!

 

 

 

Blog