Chalky

Chalky is an online platform that connects you with mentors who'll guide you where they've already been, and where you want to go. Chalky is in private beta. We are currently connecting high school students, college students, and alumni to help them discover, apply to, and succeed in college. Check out and join Chalky at www.chalky.co. This is our blog.

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Hey! If you plan to attend a University at that time, apply for these schools during your senior year. Junior year is usually the time to take the SAT and ACT tests that are necessary for your college admissions later.

Jennifer, Chalky

In response to "If I want to start college ( i.e Stanford, Harvard e.t.c) in the fall of 2016 and I am a sophomore in high school right now, should I apply for college my junior year?"

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It really isn't a problem at all. Colleges are aware of the fact that some people just don't do standardized testing well and it is just one of the many factors that go into the decision making process. As long as you do well on you essay, and if your GPA is slightly above, I wouldn't really worry about it. Good luck!

Sachith, Chalky

In response to "What to do- high GPA, average test scores?"

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Calm down, sweetheart! A summer program isn't the only way to make use of your summer! I don't know of any summer programs off of the top of my head, but other alternatives include taking summer classes at your local college, volunteering, taking up a part time job, or creating your own X, Y, or Z. But honestly, a productive summer is whatever you define it as and it doesn't have to be sanctioned, e.g. self studying on a subject you're interested, reading books that you typically won't have to chance to read during the school year, etc. Also, don't forget to relax! It's the summer, you can and probably need to take a break! Enjoy it!

Rui, Chalky

In response to "So I applied to some very competitive summer programs, but unfortunately was rejected from all- Anyone know of any programs still taking applications that wont break my bank? Also how I can make my summer as productive as possible?"

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Well, first I wouldn't worry about competing with everyone else in your class. You're going to college for yourself not other people. If you look at college as an opportunity to better yourself, you will get more out if. From personal experience, my motivation has always been to compete against myself so I am always trying to excel in whatever I do, and this works pretty well for me. Second, if you're leaning towards Irvine I would choose that school. There are other things that are drawing you towards Irvine and I would think about that. They are both great schools, but I have heard amazing things about Irvine. Good luck and remember whatever you choose, there will be amazing opportunities waiting for you!

Cynthia, Chalky

In response to "UC Irvine or University of San Francisco?"

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SAT II subject tests are completely option, unless you intend to apply to a school that requires them, e.g. Harvard, Princeton, specialized schools at certain schools, etc. Overall I would recommend taking them if you feel confident in the subject area, just in case the scenario arises that it's mid-December and all of a sudden you want to apply to a school that requires SAT II subject tests. Moreover, if you do well, it only makes your application stronger. Ideally, you should take 2 because that's typically how many those certain schools require, though I would highly recommend looking into the requirements of the schools you are interested. Timing is really up to you. I would recommend the June date (?) - if there is a June date - because most schools (at least where I'm from) end a week or few before June, which would give you a few weeks to cram. Otherwise, I would recommend the first test date available after summer, because you'll have more than enough time to study during the summer. As long as you take them before the school's deadline, you'll be alright. That being said, I never took the SAT II subject tests, though I did prepare to take them. For most people getting a test prep book and cramming is quite efficient, especially when time is tight, but honestly do whatever works for you. Best of luck!

Rui, Chalky

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Can't find a job or internship for the summer yet? Don't panic because there is still time to find one. But on the off chance that you don't, try volunteering! It comes with less commitment, you get to help people, and it even allows you to work in fields that you're interested in. Whether you're interested in human rights, the environment, or education, there are tons of volunteering positions waiting for you. There are even some opportunities that take you to a different country for your volunteer work! Volunteering is a great way to develop specific skills and to show your future college or employer that you care about other people besides yourself. Volunteer work is fun and it gives you a chance to make lots of friends too, so get out there and volunteer. And if you have any questions about what volunteering is like, just message me and I will tell you

Cynthia, Chalky

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The New and Improved SAT

Please write an essay of at least four tweets in length. Don’t forget to use punctuation and stuff.

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15 Colleges With Powerhouse Entrepreneurship Programs

These top entrepreneurship programs have produced star founders and companies.

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How The College Admissions Process Works

Heres how college admissions departments determine their incoming freshman class

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It's officially Spring and everyone is itching for the school year to be over so you can jump outdoors. I know the warm weather makes it more difficult to focus on school work, and sometimes you just need a break- which is okay! Go outside for an hour and get that excess energy out. In the long run it's healthier for your body and mind. You will get more restful sleep each night and you will be able to focus more on your assignments and complete them in less time. So get outside and ENJOY the warm weather!

Cynthia, Brandeis

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As you begin to receive your college acceptance letters, there are some important questions you will need to ask yourselves. Some of you will need to compare the financial aid packages that each school gives you and most of you will have to consider which schools have better programs depending on what you want to do. Ask yourself the following for each school: 1. How much money was I given? Is this with/without loans? Does this include a on campus job? How much am I willing to borrow? How much in debt will this leave me? 2. Can I study ALL of the areas I want to here? Do I want to focus on one area of study or get a minor/double major? How hard is it to complete more than 1 major at this school? 3. What are the demographics here? Ethnically? Socio-economically? Religiously? Gender? Compare the ratios to other schools. 4. How far away from home is it? Realistically, are you ready to live away from home? Or do you want something close enough that allows you to visit every month?

Cynthia, Brandeis

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The SAT's have just changed. There is an optional essay, but the test is officially out of 1600 points with no penalties for guessing wrong. "Does that mean I should study less? The test IS easier, right?" Absolutely not! The SAT still tests critical thinking and reading skills, and the ability to do a certain level of mathematics. Don't stress over it, but I want to encourage you to continue studying and practice as many SAT questions as you can. The closer you get to 1600 points, the closer you are to having that dream school at your feet.

Cynthia, Brandeis

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Khan Academy Gets Rare Partnership To Close Wealth Gap In College Test Prep | TechCrunch

Widely popular online learning platform Khan Academy closed a rare exclusive partnership with the College Board to bring free test prep software to the..

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A New SAT Aims to Realign With Schoolwork

The College Board said it would eliminate obligatory essays and cut obscure vocabulary words in an effort to make its college admission exams focus on important academic skills.

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It's always a great idea to try new things, but why are you doing so many? There are only so many things a person can be 100% passionate about and colleges know this. If you want to make a difference and you want colleges to notice you, find those few activities you can't live without and stick with them. Besides, consistency and dedication are admirable traits to have!

Cynthia, Brandeis

More advice from current college students and alumni on Chalky

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There is no secret weapon for getting into a school. Your best weapon will be in your hands when you do your best and follow your passions. Grades, SAT scores, and extracurriculars definitely matter, but just because you have straight A's, 2400s and 800s, and 10 club positions doesn't guarantee that you will get in. If your transcripts show all A's, that will definitely help. But remember that colleges are looking for who you are, not what numbers (or letters) define you as. Essentially, your application as a whole needs to show who you are. So if you have all A's and perfect SAT scores but no clubs, then colleges just see you as someone who can take tests. But colleges want people who will THRIVE in college, not just people who can pass classes. They want people who will gladly follow their passions and are determined to make a difference. So don't do things just because you think that's what colleges want to see. Do things because that's what YOU want to do.

Kimberly

More advice from current college students and alumni on Chalky

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When the Wait is Over: Accepted vs. Rejected vs. Waitlist

You submitted FAFSA, CSS Profile, or any other documentation for financial aid. You submitted all necessary arts or research supplements to bolster your application. You’re anxiously waiting to see what college you’ll call home for the next four years.

The time for splurging on college gear is almost here. When you do receive that admissions decision, it’s beneficial to know the ins and outs of what decision options a committee actually has. Here’s the gist of all three. Best of luck.

ACCEPTED

Congrats, you’re in!

It feels as though the haze of college stress has finally parted, for a shiny acceptance letter sits in your mailbox or a sparkling acceptance email waits patiently in your inbox. You should be proud. But before you start making phone calls to friends and family, be sure to understand the next steps.

For many accepted applicants there’s often some sort of welcome week that the university hosts. Be sure to discuss with parents and school regarding attendance. These usually take place during spring break but if welcome week falls during a school week, it’s key to receive the “all clear” to attend. These welcome events are extremely informative, not to mention fun, so I highly recommend attending if possible. Have travel arrangements pre-planned as well.

Remind your guidance counselor or school registrar to submit a final report and final transcript to the school at which you choose to matriculate. This is something that many students forget to do in the flurry of excitement and it can get an acceptance rescinded. Even if you’re accepted, colleges want to know they accepted the right, responsible, and consistent candidate.

Lastly, don’t forget to submit any financial aid forms requested by the school and apply for housing. After sending out decisions, universities often ask for current tax returns so that a proper financial award estimate can be provided so it’s key to keep up with that. Housing applications are usually opened sometime after decisions are mailed out, and usually are on a lottery system so the earlier you submit this, the better! Keep track of all post-decision information you receive.

Once again, congratulations and I wish you the best of luck in your college career.

REJECTED

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

-Alexander Graham Bell

Depending on which school it was, there are a variety of emotions and questions. Indifference, regret, and disappointment are completely normal. It’s crucial to not let these emotions get in the way of what you must decide though. A big part of the college application process is growing up. With this transition comes the ability to deal with failures and come out strong—you develop resilience and learn to approach life’s situations in a level-headed manner. Just because you received a rejection, does not mean that the goals you set have crumbled. A fancy degree from a top-tier university is not what makes the person. It’s the learning and experience that define a successful individual.

At this point, there may be questions regarding the validity of the decision. Some universities do offer an appeal process that often involves the resubmission of application materials as well as additional recommendations. Depending on the situation, I highly recommend consulting with your guidance counselor or advisor regarding the strength of this option.

If you were rejected by a university that does not offer an appeal process, then it is the end of the line. Regardless of emails sent to regional admissions officers questioning the decision (I STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST DOING THIS) it is what it is.

Pick yourself up, wipe off the dust, and move forward to other options. It’s you that defines the school, not the other way around.

WAITLISTED

It’s equivalent to a tight rope walk where everything still hangs in the balance—the college waitlist.

If you were waitlisted, know that you were good enough based on your applicant profile to attend the university. There’s one thing that held the committee back from the acceptance stamp though: logistics. Housing and class sizes are all aspects that colleges must keep in check to maintain budgets and a campus life. This is often the reason why so many applicants get waitlisted, and this is communicated in the waitlist letter as well.

There are two options.

The first option is to not stay on the waitlist. Perhaps you were accepted into your first choice school and received a waitlist at your second choice school. Or perhaps you simply do not want to go through the waitlist process. Whatever the reason, if you do not wish to remain on the waitlist, be sure to tell the university. There may be an online portal where you can input that you do not wish to remain on the waitlist. If not, send a quick email to the university informing them of your decision.

The second is to stay on the waitlist in the hopes of a spot opening up. If you decide to do this, understand that there’s a greater chance that a spot will not open up so explore the universities you have been accepted to thoroughly. If you decide to stay on a waitlist, you must inform the university ASAP. This could be through an online portal or an email. In order to maximize your chances, send a letter of intent to your regional admissions officer informing them of your continued interest in the university. The regional admissions officer is your cheerleader at the committee meetings so it’s important to get acquainted with them. Do not send excessive emails though. This can come off as desperate and extremely annoying. A well-written letter of intent and at max one to two WELL-SPACED follow-up emails should suffice. Majority of universities do not know their yields until after May 1st which is the national response deadline. Thus you must matriculate at a university by May 1st if you wish to attend college in the fall. If you find out afterwards that you have been accepted off of a waitlist, then you can inform the other university and thus enroll at the new university. Understand that there are draw backs to being accepted off the waitlist. You usually get last pick of housing and not a lot of financial aid depending on the school. Think carefully and wisely while consulting with a guidance counselor or school advisor.

It’s been a long road that is soon coming to an end. If you were part of the 2013-14 college admissions cycle, you should be proud of all that you have accomplished. I wish you the best in all your future endeavors.

By Zoha Syed. Zoha is an 18 year old University of Washington student. Zoha is a frosh Pre-Med student at the University of Washington. Her interests include French, Visual Arts, and Writing.