sample college application essays

Students can be teachers, too… apprentices, at least. Now, if you are a college student and you have this knack for sharing your knowledge to your fellow students, specifically the lower classmen, then you have the option to try out for college teaching assistant positions. As the job name connotes, teaching assistants are basically assistants to teachers. They provide the needed manpower support and substitution for teachers. The qualification? Usually, you just have to be an active college student to qualify as a college teaching assistant.

The job description

What do college teaching assistants do? The following lists the job duties and responsibilities of a college teaching assistant:

* Teaching assistants do the paperwork for the teachers. They are the ones who typeset the exams, the handouts, and all the other documents that a teacher is required to shell out to the students or to the school authorities. They do the correspondence and have the important ones signed. Sometimes, teachers even make their teaching assistants draft out their lesson plans or examinations.

* Teaching assistants may also be tasked to keep the teachers’ important documents, such as their students’ papers and their class records. They may also be tasked to do multimedia presentations when needed. If the teacher has a website or at least an e-mail account that he or she uses to communicate with his or her students, the one who usually tends to that is his or her teaching assistant.

* If the teachers in which teaching assistants are employed under are distance educators, chances are, there would be times that the teaching assistants will be the ones who deliver and compose the lectures on the web portal provided for this purpose. Teaching assistants also tend to the teachers’ databases and keep these organized.

* Teaching assistants may be tasked to act as substitute teachers when the teacher is not around.

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There are many reasons why some college students choose to shift majors, some of which are as follows:

* No longer contented with what their current major is giving them. This is usually the problem of those students who were just coerced by parents to take a particular college major, or who were forced to take up another major when they already have another in mind.
* Discovering that their skill sets actually match another course major.
* Need to transfer to another college. Sometimes, the college that they have to transfer to does not have the same course offering as their old college. So, these students are forced to take up another course major that is still in line with their previous major.

Now, here’s the question: what does shifting majors entail? Does it have a substantial effect on the college student involved? Following are the pros and cons of shifting majors:

When shifting majors can be an advantage

The pros in shifting majors is actually more personal than practical in nature. Many college students transfer because of the aforementioned reasons, especially the two first ones, which, if you would notice, have more to do with personal choice. While that may be deemed by others, especially the conventionalists, as a waste of time, truth is, if you still decide to push through with a major that you don’t like, you’d waste time even more. That’s because pushing through something you didn’t really like may pave the way towards delinquent behavior that may result in you abandoning your study habits to pursue what you really want. Or, if by chance you do graduate from the major, you may end up in a different career, anyway. So, it’s like you just pursued the major to have a degree.

When Shifting Majors Can Be A Disadvantage

On the other hand, the cons of shifting majors is based on practicality issues. You need to consider the fact that once you start on a major, you have and are already investing time, money, and effort on it. Also, when you shift majors, if you were lucky, none of your previous course subjects may be credited and you’ll have to start back to square one.

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Sometimes, it is inevitable for college students to transfer colleges or universities due to a myriad of reasons. The most common reasons why college students transfer are as follows:

* Homesickness
* Issues with college authorities
* Dissatisfied with the course program taken
* Need to change schedule or location

Whichever your case is, there are things that you need to consider when you transfer to another college or university. Here are tips to help you go about transferring colleges or universities:

* First off, decide which college or university you are going to transfer to. You don’t want to be given an honorable dismissal certification from the school and after that, be left empty-handed, with no school to go to. Also, when you zero in your college or University of choice before you actually seek honorable dismissal from your current college, you get to save on time, money, and effort. That’s because you get to hit two birds with one stone when you seek a college to transfer to first–as you fix your documents for dismissal, you also get to fix your recommendation papers to your next college.

* In connection to the first tip, it is also most advisable that you settle your issues first with your previous college before you seek transfer to another college. These issues may include projects that you failed to submit, or fees that you haven’t paid yet. That is because such issues might serve as impediments to your quest for enrollment to another college.

* Once you have fixed your papers, you need to be reminded that you are in the process of starting all over again. This means that you have to deal with college application requirements again, such as GPA, college admissions essays, and more, since you are a transferee. To help you out with your admission essay, read sample college application essays online. There are many sites that offer sample college application essays that you can use as guides. Just make sure that you don’t copy off ideas from sample college application essays when you write your own.

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Fraternities are a mainstay in many colleges. These are college organizations that are founded based on brotherhood. Basically, fraternities help support their members in dealing with many college life issues and even life after college. If you want to know more about college fraternities, Hollywood college frat movies may offer a more personal perspective as to what a fraternity really is. While some movies may discuss serious college life issues, others show the more hilarious side of being in college. Here are the top five college frat movie picks:

* Fraternity Row – This is another 70’s movie that shows how fraternity initiation rites can lead to death. This is one of the the more serious frat movies that’s set in the 50’s. The story centers on upper class college students who have to deal with family pressure and fraternity issues.

*Animal House – This 1978 movie is dubbed as “The Godfather” version of college movies. It is one of the oldest college frat movies that features Tim Matheson, John Belushi, and John Vernon as the film’s lead characters. Animal House is about three Delta House fraternity members who did their best to stop the college dean and another fraternity from kicking the members of the fraternity out of school.

* Revenge of the Nerds – This movie dates back to the mid-80’s. It is a chart-topping Hollywood college frat movie that made history on its own. This is basically about a group of nerds in college that finally won over the college frat boys by learning how to defend themselves.

*Going Greek – This 2001 movie stars Laura Harris, Simon Rex, and Dylan Bruno. This is about how joining a fraternity can actually affect personal relationships.

* Old School - This 2003 comedy flick is about 30-year old men who rekindled the fraternity fever by forming their own. With Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, and Vince Vaughn as among the lead characters, the movie also features the sometimes crazy frat life.

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Politics is actually a part of everyday life. With the existence of governing bodies, rules have to be followed to ensure order. But you don’t only get involved with politics when discussing important social issues or exercising your right to vote, politics may also exist in the classroom setting. As a college student, you’ll also be exposed to petty politics as a result of misunderstanding or clash of opinions with fellow classmates, student organization members, or other social groups. Because petty college politics may affect your student life, you should learn how to best deal with it.

Overview of petty college politics

In what areas do petty college politics usually occur?

* Inside the classrooms. Competition for good grades is a mainstay in every classroom, even in college. The best way to win this game is to simply do your best. Control your anger; do not resort to name calling or bickering. Instead, try your best to be calm so you can confront any misunderstanding or untoward situation with a classmate or professor using a clear head.
* Among friendships or social groups. While bickering over a boyfriend or girlfriend or other issues that involve friends is normal, it would be best to avoid such situation. Try not to get too personal during arguments with a student group or friend. Know when it’s best not to react.

How can you steer clear from petty college politics? Here are some tips:

* Avoid taking sides and be a diplomat yourself, especially if you suspect that the issues are personal and self-centered. It may even be better if you just quit talking about it with people and simply listen.
* Deal with petty college politics objectively. Respect the views of others, especially when dealing with an authority. Listen to what they have to say before you raise any question politely.

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You are now making the transition from high school to college. At this point, a very important question that needs to be answered is where you are going to get college education. How do you choose which college to go to? Three popular options would be universities, community colleges, or ivy league academic institutions. Remember that each has its own list of benefits and disadvantages. Better take this into consideration before you take your pick. After which, you still need to narrow down your choices.  To help you through with this, this articles has simple tips to offer.

Tips on choosing  your college

When zeroing in your college of choice, you may consider narrowing down your choices through the following:

* What course program do you want to take? For example, if you want to take a bachelor’s degree in psychology and you prefer going to an ivy league institution, might as browse through the course listings. Narrow down your list to those that offer psychology programs or those that offer a specific field of specialization.

* How much college fund do you have? College education entails the cost of tuition and living expenses. Go to where your budget allows you. You can also seek financial aid from the various institutions, scholarships from the school itself, or student loans for additional funding.

* Is it a reputable college? Be sure that the college of choice may offer quality education and the training you need for building a future career. Check the course offering, credentials of the college faculty, and the method of teaching it is known for.

* Do your credentials fit in? This is perhaps the most important consideration. Remember that each college has its own set of admission standards that you need to meet. See to it that you get a list of its requirements before you submit an application.

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Every college student starts as a timid, awkward freshman adjusting to a new scholastic environment. While all first year students enter college with high hopes about their future, they will find, sooner or later, that adjusting to college life may actually be harder than they imagined. This is because when you go to college, your study habits may change– you are now preparing for a future career. You may no longer the happy-go-lucky and carefree student that you used to be in high school. You then have to realize that as a grown up, you will be taking more responsibilities. College life, on the other hand, can also be fun in the sense that you get to be more independent. You can live on your own and decide on what you want to do with your life.

To help you go through the college freshman year,  here are some survival tips:

* Make a conscious effort to talk to people. You don’t have to talk to all the people you meet, but at least, work on your communication skills. If you do, you may gain new friends and expand your social network.

* Be responsible. As a responsible college student, you need to take charge of your studies and basic needs. Now that you’re probably living in a college dorm, you have to consider your expenses as well. Don’t just blow your allowance on shopping sprees, clubbing, or splurging on stuff with your college pals. Always keep in mind that any time, you may have to buy some books, pay to get some school projects done, and foot other bills.

* Know when and where to ask for help. This is where school officials, especially the college guidance counselor, come in. When having problems with your studies, you always have the option to either seek group study sessions with your friends or casually seek guidance from professors.

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Several research studies have confirmed that with a college degree, you have higher chances of earning more. The higher pay range for bachelor’s degree holders comes from numerous employment opportunities that they can explore. Though they may also start in rank and file positions, bachelor’s degree holders may easily qualify for promotion. They are considered good candidates for a higher position in the company because of their credentials and the training they had through college education. While high school graduates may earn only an average of $1.2 million based on their entire working life, college degree holders can earn more with about $2.1 million as average working life income. This is based on a study conducted by the  US Commerce Department’s Census Bureau. This report clearly shows the huge gap on income probabilities between high school and college graduates.

Other research studies even claim that college degree holders can earn as much as 60% to 70% more than those who only have highschool diplomas. In the field of scientific discoveries and entrepreneurship, the salary level for college graduates is said to be higher. Despite these claims from numerous studies, remember that income level still depends on a number of conditions. This means that not all college graduates can earn as much these figures would suggest. Position, field of expertise, knowledge, and skills should still be take into consideration.

Knowledge is power!

Many employers prefer hiring college graduates simply because of the technical skills and knowledge they have acquired through higher education. In the field of scientific discoveries, information technology, and electronics, college graduates may secure better job positions. The specialized knowledge they’ve gained through college is deemed as a worthy investment, especially for developing new products, systems, and technology for the company they are working for. In this case, their college diploma may also serve as a proof of their competency.

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US colleges generally have three classifications: universities, ivy league institutions, and community colleges. If you are seeking college education but can’t afford to go farther or spend too much on college expenses, then it is best for you to consider enrolling to a community college.

The advantages of going to a community college

Going to a community college has its benefits. These are as follows:

* Lesser expenses
If money is an issue when it comes to pursuing college education, then it shouldn’t be when you go to a community college. You no longer have to bother with transportation or college dorm room costs. Plus, the cost of tuition in a community college is significantly lower compared to universities or ivy league institutions.

* Easier transition from high school life to college life
Community colleges give you the chance to have a smooth transition from laid-back secondary school to the more serious college life. Community college even provides you ideas on how studying in a university is like.

*Open to all
Unlike other universities, it’s easier to get to community college even with a lower GPA. They normally have less restriction when it comes to academic performances.

* Less academic load
Community colleges have lesser students and course offerings than bigger colleges. This may lead to a closer interaction and focus between professors and students.

The disadvantages of going to a community college

Though going to a community college may help you save on cost, you should still consider some things you may miss out on. Here’s a short list of its disadvantages:

* Lack of student diversity

It would be better if you can mingle with students from other cultures when you get to college. This way, you can improve your social skills and further broaden your knowledge based on diverse influences, thoughts, and concepts.

* Limited course programs
Community colleges don’t necessarily have all the courses that incoming college students may want to take up. This is why those who study in community colleges may eventually transfer to more prestigious colleges or bigger universities.

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All students, be they in college or in lower scholastic levels, should face it–they have three prime responsibilities, and those are being a good student, being a good son or daughter to their parents and sibling to their brothers and sisters (or a good wife/husband or mother/father, whichever is the case), and being a good friend to their peers. The first and third responsibilities are a given to many college students - most are able to get good grades in college while still having time to bond with their pals. But when it comes to the “family” part, most college students are ailing.

So, how can you be a good college student and friend while still being a good family man or woman all at the same time? Here are some tips for you to live by:

* Never disregard your course syllabi. The course syllabus outlines the dates of your exams and important project or homework deadlines. Keep each course syllabus handy whenever you plan your schedule.  This will help you determine which times should be set aside for school work, then bonding time with family and friends.

* If it is possible, take fewer units at a time. This is especially important for parents who are in college. This way, you will be able to accomplish all your duties at a comfortable pace and you will lessen your burnout tendencies.

* When it comes to choosing whether you would want to spend your free time with your family or with your friends, always choose your family first. Forget about sounding like a sissy when you go out and spend free time with your family. You will always have friends, but your family won’t be there for you forever.

* If it is physically impossible for you to spend time with your family during leisure times because you’re living in a college dorm room that’s miles away from home, still make it a point to keep in touch with them. Thanks to technology, you have the option to contact them via phone, e-mail, or snail mail.

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