How to Maximize Your Winter Break

How to Maximize Your Winter Break

REST

After a long semester, it would be wise to take a breather or two.  The final stretch of non-stop studying, all-nighters, and finals, warrants a rest.  Sleep, enjoy home-cooked meals, and get yourself ready to maximize the next couple weeks during your winter break.

TAKE A CLASS

The thought of school might be the last thing on your mind, but taking a class this winter break might actually be beneficial.  Finding the right class can pay off in the long run.  It never hurts to get credits towards your degree.  It will help you stay ahead and even free up your time when the next semester rolls around.  Also by taking a class now, it can potentially save you money as well.

FIND WORK

During the holiday season, there will be plenty of places looking to hire for the season.  Look for opportunities that work best for you.  By getting a job during your winter break, you can make money, gain experience, and build relationships.  Who knows, what started off as a temporary job can yield openings to work there again in the future.

TRAVEL

Winter break is a reunion of sorts if you or your friends went to school out of state.  It is a time where you can reconnect and have fun.  Why not take this time to visit other friends or even go on an adventure.  If you’re into winter sports, you can travel nearby or far to go skiing or snowboarding.

VOLUNTEER

The holiday season is a time of celebration, family, and joy.  It is also a time to give back.  Take advantage of your winter break by partnering with a good cause.  Serving others and volunteering are some of the best uses of your time.  Winter is often the hardest time of the year for those in need.  Donate belongings, give, or volunteer your time to be a blessing to others.

GET READY FOR SPRING SEMESTER

Before you know it, winter break will fly right by.  Take some time to get ready for the new semester.  By now you should have your spring classes set so get a head start on course material, textbooks, and just mental preparedness.  Also this break can be a great time to research different scholarship opportunities to help you pay for school in the spring.

5 Books to Dive into This Summer

Often times the last thing you want to do during the summer is read, but it can be one of the most rewarding ways to spend your time.  For centuries the greatest leaders were always readers!  There are plenty of studies and statistics that show how beneficial reading truly is.  So why wait?  Before the semester begins again, here are 5 favorites to dive into this summer.

1) Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

A book packed with wisdom, life lessons, and emotions, Tuesdays with Morrie, has sold over 12 million copies since its release.  The author shares his last moments with a reconnected mentor, Morrie, who is dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease.  It’s a story of their journey together as they met regularly every Tuesday.  This book will be sure to inspire you as well as remind you of what matters most in life.

2) The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Ever wonder how trends start?  Whether it’s an idea or even fashion, certain things seem to just take off out of nowhere.  In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell examines and explains how things start to tip and then spread like wildfire.  This book will be sure to capture your imagination and stretch your thinking.  Gladwell’s book is informative, entertaining, and outside the box.

3) How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This book has endured the test of time and is a classic!  Decade after decade, this book has impacted millions of lives.  While many of the advice seem obvious, take them to heart and truly live them out.  If you do, they will be a definite asset to you no matter what situation you find yourself in.  A must read for everyone.

4) The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein

One of the most beloved books is the prequel to one of the greatest fiction series of all time, The Lord of the Rings.  Although this work of Tolkien’s has been turned into a movie, it can’t compare to the book.  It is filled with adventure, courage, risk, and humor found in its beloved characters and engaging plot.

5) The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Set in the South during the 1960s where great racial tension existed, this story journeys with three women who stand up for what’s right.  The author does a wonderful job of painting the picture of what that era was like and what it took to do the right thing.  Can’t recommend this book enough!

The SAT Is Changing: Here’s What It Means For You

Prior to entering college, the SAT Reasoning Test is probably the most important exam a student will take in their academic career. Administered by The College Board, the SAT is the most common standardized test required by college admissions committees. A student’s SAT score does not directly determine whether or not they get accepted, but it can often play a significant role in the decision.

Recently, The College Board announced that the SAT was being redesigned for Spring 2016. The changes aren’t drastic, but there are a few things potential test-takers should be aware of:

• The exam will be reverting to the 400- to 1600-point scale (as opposed to the 600-to 2400-point scale)

• There will be three sections to the exam: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, Math, and the Essay

• The length of the exam is approximately three hours, with 50 additional minutes to complete the essay

• There is no longer a penalty for wrong answers, meaning that students ought to answer every question on the exam

• The vocabulary portion will now focus on relative words in context. This will emphasize a proper understanding of more commonly used words, as opposed to lists of obscure terms.

Understanding these key changes is critical for any student hoping to master the exam and gain admission to a top school. Visit the College Board website (www.collegeboard.org) for additional information.

WAYS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR SUMMER - Summer Suggestions for Students

With school now over and summer just around the corner, you are now free!  Yet with freedom comes great responsibility.  Whether you are about to enter college or just finished the spring semester, you have a wonderful opportunity to maximize the long summer months to your advantage.  More than being busy for the sake of being busy, here are some ways to invest in yourself and your future this summer.

TAKE CLASSES

The next couple months can be the perfect opportunity to get some credits under your belt.  You can either take classes at a community college, which is very cost effective compared to regular classes at universities, or even take online classes towards your degree.  You can also take classes on subjects that you want to learn.  It can be a way you can cultivate a strength of yours or even turn a weakness into a strength.  Be proactive in your growth and education during the summer by taking some classes.

VOLUNTEER

One of the greatest ways to gain perspective in life is by volunteering and helping others.  The old adage goes that no one ever loses by giving.  Many students have volunteered at educational centers, soup kitchens, and hospitals.  You can also join a short-term missions trip locally or overseas.  So why not capitalize on your free time by looking for ways to volunteer this summer.

WORK

Getting a job this summer can benefit you in two ways.  First it never hurts to have some spending money during the summer!  And secondly, it will be a way to gain meaningful experience and preparation for the work force.  It will help you be responsible with your time and be disciplined throughout the summer.

INTERNSHIP

As you look ahead to your future, people will be looking to see if you have any career-related experience.  By getting an internship, it will help expose you to different fields and develop a network that can only help you moving forward.  Look for an internship that appeals to you and your passions to see if that really is a career path for you or not.

HAVE FUN

Just because you get an internship or are taking classes doesn’t mean you can’t have fun!  More than what you do, it’s how you do it.  Since these are all ways you are bettering yourself, why not have fun while doing it.  And make sure to schedule in time to spend with your friends and family as well.  Even as you seek to maximize your summer, don’t forget that summer is still summer.  We wish you a fun, safe, and highly productive summer!

Where Are They Now? – Daniel Halek

Every month, two students are awarded $1,000 college scholarships from the YCL Scholarship Program. During the contest, you see their face every day on the website and perhaps even vote for them, but what happens after they receive the scholarship?

Periodically, we like to follow up with previous YCL winners to find out what they’re up to now and how the YCL Scholarship has made a difference in their lives.

What do you like most about your school?

At Seton Hall University, I love the small campus feel and  the ability to get know classmates and professors more intimately as opposed to being lost in the crowd.  At Seton Hall, I have had the privilege to learn from excellent professors and mentors. Seton Hall also provides excellent opportunities to network and learn from alumni who are interested in each student’s success at Seton Hall. 

What’s your major and why did you pick it?

I was blessed to have the opportunity to complete a triple major in Management, Finance and Information Technology at Seton Hall.  I am passionate about leadership and developing other people as leaders. Management classes provided the theory to know how to lead people and more importantly, how to know and lead yourself.  I also chose Finance as a major because I am very interested in the financial markets and the economy at large.  I wanted to learn how money is managed in financial markets and within large corporations. Finance is very broad, and I personally enjoy investment management classes and learning about the equity markets.  In addition, Information Technology is a part of every large corporation and the world in general. I believe it is imperative to know how to operate technology properly and learn various technological skills that assist one in any career they may choose.

      What would you say are the major differences between your high school experience and your college experience?

In college, there is an abundance of free time; in other words, time that is not spent in class learning from the professor. Students must make an effort to accomplish work on their own and have discipline to do the work. Good work habits are developed throughout middle and high school and must be carried over into college. Time management is something that cannot be overstated because there are a lot of different activities that can draw one’s attention. Success in college requires that one step outside of their comfort zone to take on new and exciting challenges and opportunities that can lead to great experiences.

We notice that you just recently graduated – congrats! What are your plans for after college?

I am excited to have received and accepted an offer from Kohl’s to become a Manager-In-Training. I plan to learn as much as possible from my superiors and continue to develop leadership skills that can help Kohl’s succeed as an organization.  

When did you win the YCL Scholarship?

I have been blessed to have received the YCL Scholarship about 4-5 months ago and also a few years ago. I was made aware of the scholarship by a friend in the church that I attend and I decided to apply.  The generosity of Mr. Dan Buttafuoco cannot be overstated. I am truly grateful for his investment into my life.

How has the YCL Scholarship made a difference in your college education?

Due to financial circumstances, after my freshman year at Seton Hall, I left to attend a community college with the hope of returning to Seton Hall University.  During that time, I received the YCL Scholarship and I was able to use the proceeds to help fund my studies at Seton Hall.  I believe that I can speak for many YCL Scholarship recipients, in that the scholarship is truly a financial assistance that helps lift the burden of paying off student loans in an economic environment where tuition costs are rising at a rapid pace.

In what ways are you continuing the YCL mission since winning the scholarship?

As often as possible I go to the YCL Scholarship webpage and vote for many highly qualified candidates that are entered into the contest each month.  I am always encouraged to see other students like myself that want to make a difference for God’s kingdom with the gifts and talents that they have been entrusted with.  It is often hard to vote for just one individual because so many of the students have a great number and a wide range of academic, athletic, and community accomplishments.

What would you say to a current student thinking about applying for the YCL Scholarship?

The hour or less that it takes to print out the application and ask your pastor, guidance counselor, or teacher to help fill out a recommendation is well worth the time! It would be nice if good things in life just came to me from doing nothing, but that is not how it works. There are many God-ordained opportunities around us each day that we have the chance to grab ahold of.  When we sow into God’s kingdom and into the areas in our lives that He has given to us to be faithful in, such as school, work, church, athletics, music, business, and so much more, I believe God wants to bless us and give us good things.

Any final words for aspiring high school and college students?

God has great plans for your life! I believe that Jesus wants us to live our lives to fullest because He says in John 10:10 that “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” True life is found when we put our full trust and faith in what He did for us on the Cross. I can live each day with purpose because of what Christ has done for me! Each day is journey with God. Be open to listen to what God would speak to you for your life calling. It probably won’t come to you immediately. As you follow Him, he will open up doors for you that you cannot imagine. He needs people in every arena of society living out the unique calling upon their life.  Live your life for God’s glory in whatever you do because our whole lives belong to Jesus!

Going Away vs. Staying Home

For every high school senior, one of the most important decisions they’ll face is deciding what college to attend. A big factor in that decision is whether or not they’ll go away or stay at home. There are good reasons for either choice which must be evaluated by  students and their families when preparing for college. Some of the most significant things to consider are:

• Money. This is arguably the largest determinant in the dorming versus commuting debate. In general, students and their families shell out almost $10,000 per year on room & board and other associated costs. Add that to an already expensive tuition rate and the costs add up very quickly.

• Independence. Many students consider independence extremely important, and college is usually the first time a teenager is granted extensive autonomy. Living away from mom and dad teaches students maturity and facilitates the transition from teenager to adult.

• Coping with change. Adjusting to college life is stressful enough, and moving away to unfamiliar territory can make the change much more challenging. Staying at home provides practical and emotional support for students, which may enable them to better cope with the transition.

• Missed opportunities. Living at home generally means less participation in campus activities. Commuter students often report feeling more disconnected from the school than do resident students. For students looking for a complete college experience, staying at home may make them feel like they’re missing out.

College is a new experience for everyone so it should be as rewarding as possible. Each student should consider these details so that they can make the decision that is best for them and their family.

GOOGLE Cheat Sheet of Tips & Tricks: How To Use Google To Study

Almost every college student uses Google on a daily basis, and most think their Googling skills are pretty good too. However, a recent study revealed that 3 out of 4 students don’t know how to perform an effective Google search. When your final grade depends on the term paper you’re stressing over, using Google with maximum efficiency is imperative. But so many students aren’t aware that they don’t know how to Google.

For those who have never taken the time to learn the ins and outs of Google, fear not. The following is a helpful cheat sheet of tips and tricks that will increase your search productivity:

“example” searches for the exact phrase in the quotation marks

~example                        searches the term and words related to the term

-example                         excludes the term from search results

*example                        replaces itself with common terms in your search

filetype:pdf                     searches only results of the specified file type 

site:www.example.com searches only the pages of the specified site

intitle:example                displays only results that have the term in the title

author:example              searches only articles/papers by the specified author

####..####                     searches within a range of numbers/dates

Be sure to make the above commands part of your repertoire when searching for information on the web. You’ll soon notice that you get better Google results while finding them a lot quicker. However, don’t forget about the various other resources at your disposal, including your school library and online databases.

Complete these tasks to ensure you find the right school for you: COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE TIMELINE

Now that you’re almost done with college admissions, make sure to stay on top of things to give yourself the best chance of being accepted. Here are a few things to watch out for at this time of the year:

• Don’t delay in applying to schools with late deadlines or rolling admissions – they may still be filling up their class for next year.

• Make sure to keep your grades up. The admissions process is almost over but practically every college makes acceptance contingent upon continued academic success. You’ve worked hard for the past 3+ years; don’t lose focus now!

• Register and study for any AP exams you are scheduled to take.

• Be sure to fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible. Many colleges have deadlines earlier than the one listed on the FAFSA, so be sure to check with each school individually. Guidance counselors may be able to assist you with the process.

• Continue to search for scholarships that you may be eligible for.

• Keep track of acceptances, waitlists, and rejections. As acceptance letters come in, compare financial aid packages and consider campus visits in order to get an idea of which schools are a realistic possibility.

Complete these tasks to ensure you find the right school for you as soon as possible.

What should a college student do for Spring Break?

You’ve heard it all before: spring break is the time when college students fly somewhere sunny to party it up for a week. However, what you probably didn’t hear is that not ALL students do this – in fact, many students have made it a point to engage in alternative spring break activities. A very popular alternative is to go on volunteer trips, because they still allow students to take a vacation and spend time with friends. Here are five reasons why a volunteer trip should be part of your spring break plans:

Everyone else is going to Cancun. Simple question: What happens when everyone wants to fly to the same place at the same time? Plane tickets rocket to sky-high prices, as do hotel reservations, transportation, and even meals. You could save yourself a fortune by participating in a service project in beautiful Guatemala, while having a different experience than everyone else.

You’ll have a much more unique experience. Decades of pop culture and teen movies have established spring break as the time where undergrads party non-stop for a week. No matter how amazing people might make their spring break trip sound, there’s still a “been there, done that” vibe for most. Not many people can claim that they’ve spent a week in Greece helping the poor. By participating in volunteer trips, you’ll give yourself a spring break story to REALLY talk about.

Start a tradition. Your school may never have participated in a spring break volunteer trip, but all it takes is one group of friends to try it out and have a blast to establish a lasting tradition. Hearing stories packed with excitement from people who never thought they’d go on such a trip is enough to get a few more people to sign up the next year.

Give back. As a college student, you are blessed with so much: fun adventures, exploring your independence, the opportunity to make new friends, and receiving an advanced education. The majority of the world – and even many in the United States – aren’t fortunate enough to attend college. Therefore, give back by stepping out of the classroom and the comfort of home to learn from people whose culture is different from yours. And while you’re at it, the people you visit will be able to learn from you too.

Feel awesome. This last one is self-explanatory. Volunteering on a service trip will make you feel great about yourself – simple as that.

How To Select The Right College Major

One of the biggest pressures that freshman students face is the dreaded question: “What do you want to major in?” In all honesty, the average 18-year-old probably won’t know for sure what they want to do for the rest of their lives. But there are a few things you can consider to make it a little easier to figure out what your calling is.

•         Think about what you are passionate about and really enjoy doing, and think of a career choice that will allow you to pursue that

•         Don’t rush your decision, but don’t wait too long either. Midway through your sophomore year you should have an idea of which major you want to pursue

•         Try out a variety of classes – you may discover that you like something you never thought you would

•         Don’t pick a major based solely on earning potential, notoriety, or family recommendations – you’ll regret it later

•         Talk to your academic advisor and family/friends in order to determine what the best career path for you is

Most students struggle with the issue of picking a major, and some switch their choice multiple times before finding the right one. Take some time to discover what you really love doing and the decision will become a whole lot easier.

Why Should College Students Study Abroad?

Ever wanted to visit another country?  Of course you have.  Ever wanted to get away from home to experience new things? That one’s probably a no-brainer too. Well with study abroad programs, you can do both of those things while simultaneously gaining college credit. 

Study abroad programs are offered in almost every part of the world and most last for approximately one semester. During this time, you will have the opportunity to grow acquainted with the culture of a nation very different than that of the United States.  Not only that, your resume will get a big-time boost from your academic experience in diverse environments. 

Many universities worldwide participate in such programs and are set up to provide extensive accommodation for study abroad students. The University of Virginia even hosts a Semester at Sea program, where you spend a few months on board a cruise ship visiting various locales in Europe, South America, or Africa! 

Talk to your academic advisor about these travel opportunities to maximize your college experience.