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Medical School Resources! (and other human biology,physiology,biochemistry-related resources)

Hi Everyone! 

Update: I am now officially done with my second year! I know i’ve been MIA on here for a while now - but that’s only because I was drowning in textbooks and assignments! I will be writing a whole other post on what my second year in medical school was like - so watch out for that :)

I, for one, can not just rely on one method of learning. Meaning, I’ll jump from videos, to textbooks, to flashcards. In this post I’m going to list some of my holy grail youtube channels that have helped saved me. 

1) Handwritten Tutorials

https://www.youtube.com/user/harpinmartin

Every video in this channel is short, but not so much that you feel like you’re missing out on information. Definitely one to save as a favourite!

2) Armando Hasudungan

https://www.youtube.com/user/armandohasudungan

The best thing about this channel is the fact that there are over 300 videos, covering a wide range of core topics in endocrinology, neurology, physiology and pharmacology. Another pro is the presentation of topics (otherwise considered snooze-worthy) in an artistic manner!

3) Speed Pharmacology

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-i2EBYXH6-GAglvuDIaufQ

Raise your hand if you’ve ever fallen asleep trying to read about the mechanism of action of opioids, their side effects and contraindications. I know I have. Fret not, for this youtube channel will introduce you to a world where pharmacology is actually interesting.

4) Wendy Riggs 

https://www.youtube.com/user/wendogg1

Wendy Riggs is a very down-to-earth professor in Northern California, and she covers a wide range of  topics in Anatomy, Physiology and General Biology. 

5) Anatomy Zone

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAnatomyZone

A better way to learn anatomy is to supplement your textbook information with videos from this channel. The explanations and visuals provided are absolute gold.

I hope you all find these channels as helpful as I did!

[niyystudy-blog]

2018 Student Guide

With the start of 2018 well underway, I wanted to make a masterpost full of links on how to adjust your perspective with studying. Perhaps you want to become a better student overall, improve your focus or get into your dream college, there is always something we want to do better! Hopefully these tips will make 2018 your best academic year yet!

Organisation

2018 student planner

planner brand recommendations

planner vs bullet journal: pros and cons

how to set up a bullet journal

setting up a digital bullet journal

bullet journal spread ideas

bullet journal decoration hacks

bullet journal brand recommendations

whats in my bag

my favourite stationery

back to school basic supplies

how to improve your handwriting

handwriting font suggestions

balancing study and work

desk/workspace essentials

student finance tips

2018 monthly planner printables

Productivity

productivity and time management applications

how to remove distractions

types of procrastination and how to deal with them

google chrome new tab options for improved productivity

10 small ways to improve your productivity

applications to block websites

no distraction writing applications

100 days of productivity challenge

how to focus in class

how to stick to a schedule

how to stay alert

how to build self-discipline

how to organise for exams

my after school routine

how to reduce perfectionist ideas 

Motivation

what to do when you’ve tried everything

how to gain back motivation

motivational monday printables

how to stop avoiding studying

what to do when you feel exhausted before studying

how I stay motivated

tips on maintaining motivation

how to start a studyblr

how to utilise your studyblr for motivation

how to set up a studygram

dealing with competitive people

how to bounce back from ‘failure’

how to learn from a lower than expected grade

how to structure a weekly review

how to deal with a difficult class

things to do during holidays/study vacations

Studying

applications for students

how to take effective class or lecture notes

how to take notes from a textbook

how to prepare for exams

my note-taking method

my notebook system

how to write faster

how to study more effectively

how to summarise information

how I organise my binders

good habits to implement

how to study (my method)

how to revise from notes

how to organise a colour code

how to memorise information effectively

how to memorise quotes

how to use flashcards

how I reduce waffle and narration in essays

tips for essay writing

how to find out where you’re going wrong

how I prepare to study

different ways to study

how to study during the semester

how to annotate a book/novel/etc

how to get ahead in school

how to break up a large textbook

studying as a visual learner

how to practice and present a speech

mindmapping apps and extensions

how to deal with online classes

how to study a language

how to study maths

how to improve group assessments/projects

Self Care

how to improve your sleep schedule

how to wake up earlier

how to study when sick

over-coming self doubt

dealing with stress

how to balance studying and anxiety

how to balance studying and depression

apps that help with depression

ways to reward your productivity

my favourite tv shows

my favourite podcasts

ways to use empty notebooks

how to be more sociable

tips for getting a job

advice for the first day

things (personal, academic, etc) to do every week

Printables

2018 monthly planner printables

2018 student printables (includes 2018 overview + calendar, daily + weekly + monthly planner, 30 habit tracker, class overview and timed worklog)

weekly study schedule

weekly planner

weekend planner

daily planner

assessment planner

subject to do list planner

study session planner

exam revision printable pack (includes revision checklist, formulas + definitions sheet, essay + project planner, weekly schedule)

note-taking printables (includes dotted, grid, lined, cornell method)

organic chemistry printable

literary techniques and devices sheet

100 days of productivity tracker printable 

ultimate student organiser pack

study and revision pack

2018 student planner

2018 weekly planner

pomodoro tracker

grade and assessment planner pack

essay guide and planner pack

productivity planner

student reading journal printable

student finance planner

goal and habit planner

customisable weekly study planner

Other posts | Printables | Instagram | Youtube | Pinterest | Etsy Shop

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as requested!! a big list of ways to make the most of the summer months, with the disclaimer that summer is for unwinding and taking a lot of naps and going to the beach and finally taking a good, deep breath. sequel to my winter study vibes masterpost :) 

jams.

the most lush & summery album: glass animals’ how to be a human being

masterpost of study mixes

upbeat summer indie

my playlists (mix of 8tracks & spotify)

“eveningland” - indie & folk, good for quiet nights with open windows.

“a lovely light” - another good end-of-the-day mix

“ear to ear” - good MORNING! get out of bed!!

“hip-hop wake-up” - what it says on the tin

“covered in sun” - poppy summer mix i’m still adding to

ambiance.

it’s a great time to buy plants!! 

just don’t forget to water them. if you’re a chronic plant killer, set a recurring alarm on your phone for when you’re usually not busy.

my plant tag / low-maintenance plants: (one) (two)

summer candles! i like light, clean scents. 

cedar, pine, sage

lemongrass or lemon verbena 

cotton or fresh linen

ambient sound

soothing summer meadow

nighttime forest with crickets

garden with water fountains

rain on a tent roof

study snacks.

tis the season for picnic food. forget your oven exists and eat straight from the fridge.

fruit fruit fruit!! 

berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)

melons (cucumber, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon – hydrate while you eat!)

stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums)

real crunchy red grapes. you know the ones.

the world’s most devastating lemon bar recipe.

veggies

favorite salad: chop up some tomatillos & cucumbers. toss with lime juice, dill, & a pinch of salt

“sexy broccoli,” the only recipe that makes raw broccoli taste good. 

it’s a good time for sugar snap peas or edamame

drinks

cucumber spritzer

iced tea or coffee

infused water ideas

97 million smoothie recipes

+ my recipe for strawberry-banana frozen smoothie bags that are basically a perfect dupe for jamba juice’s strawberries wild

big tip: get a large pitcher or carafe to keep at your desk, so you don’t have to keep getting up for more h2o

study tips. 

heading to grad school in the fall?

make a study schedule, but just as importantly: set up study dates or accountability meetings! i get weekly lunches with two different friends, during which we mercilessly shame each other if we’ve slacked.

one pomodoro timer = 25 minutes to study with a facemask on, 5 minutes to poke experimentally at your flawless skin after.

don’t underestimate the power of a change of scene 

scope out some new work spots (gardens! parks! outdoor cafes!)

or, if you live near your campus, study there when it’s empty and calm.

don’t let work get in the way of exploration. you can drive to the coast and get some writing done, if you find a coffee shop near the beach.

if your focus is flagging in the afternoon heat, take a quick cold shower. 

misc.

use a moisturizer! with spf! every morning! this aveeno one treats me well.

i’m out here in the desert where it hits 100f by noon every day, so i always try to schedule my chore and errands for the early mornings or evenings. don’t try to fight the sun.

@liberalartssociety​‘s post on how to connect with nature 🌼

[niyystudy-blog]

care to share the lemon squares recipe? all the ones I've made in the past turned out too eggy :(

yes!! ok this recipe calls for six eggs which seems like a lot but i swear it’s so good, even my mom approved and she doesn’t approve of literally anything i do ever.

here’s the recipe. 

i used the extra thick lemon layer bc, like, go big or go home am i right

i only used 2 cups of sugar for the lemon layer 

i zested 5!! lemons and used the juice i got from them instead of measuring out a full cup - it was probably closer to ¾.

i used an aluminum baking pan (because my parents don’t have a glass one) and a stick of butter (because my parents don’t have baking spray) and the squares didn’t stick to the pan at all!!

[niyystudy-blog]

ok universe, i’m ready to feel good things. make me feel good things.

[niyystudy-blog]

6.1.2018 Day ?/100, I haven’t been uploading pictures for awhile because school is over and I’m shifting more into college applications. I take my SAT tomorrow morning I’ve barely studied so yeah. I’m not feeling very motivated but I’m writing my donation letters right now. I might quit 100 dop because I won’t be doing much this summer

[niyystudy-blog]

Can you talk about your experience at Columbia as a woman of color? Can you also talk about the Core, stress, living in NYC, campus culture, classes, and anything else that a potential student should know about? Thank you :)

Why are you on anon? lol I wish I knew who you were… but being a woman of color at Columbia is interesting… From what I’ve experienced from Columbia and other ivies and what I’ve been told by professors and students, Columbia is one of the best places for women of color within the ivy. The amount of women of color, within the student body and who teach and work at Columbia, is really quite impressive I think. Actually, this is one of the main things that attracted me to Columbia, when I came for my campus visit my senior year of high school I was amazed by the number of women of color, but specifically black women, there were walking around on campus. I also sat in on a class that was taught by a black woman and I’m pretty sure she had a great deal to do with me getting into the school. But yeah, you know how people always say, you never know if a college is right for you until you actually go there and experience the campus and the students, I definitely think that’s true, and I definitely feel like like the moment when I knew Columbia was the ivy for me was when I saw how many women of color there were on campus. And since I’ve been here I can honestly say that are a lot of women of color attending Columbia and in someways it’s hard, because most of the women of color on campus are used to being the smartest or prettiest woman of color at their school, so it feels a little competitive in some aspects, but awkwardly enough, on the flip side of that there is a strong sense of community among the women of color of campus, if you look for it. As a woman of color, I feel at home and I feel secure and safe at Columbia.

Now, the Core… it’s annoying, but it’s Columbia lol. Like, people complain about it all the time, but nobody transfers because of it. There are certain courses people hate and certain courses people really like. Like, me personally, I really enjoy Art Humanities and I despise Frontiers of Science with all the passion in my heart. I don’t understand why there’s a science requirement because science is so freaking hard, but there are people who feel like I feel about the science requirement about Art/Music Humanities and the Literature classes. I mean, if anything, the Core really helps you figure out what you do and don’t like, as far as subjects of study, and it helps you figure it out really fucking quick lol.

Stress… lol this answer is getting really long, but Columbia is extremely stressful. Period. That’s just how it is, but that’s just college in general, especially for the first couple couple of semesters. Depending on the type of high school you went to Columbia can be a dramatic shift in the way you look at academics. Like for me, I went to a basic public school where I never had to study for anything and then I came here, and I’m still trying to figure out how to study properly lol because it is extremely vital to your survival here. But with that being said, even though I went to a crap high school that didn’t at all prepare me for where I am now, I’m still here, and I’m doing pretty damn good.

Living in the City. So, living in the city is cool, but again, just like the core, it’s only what you make it. I know people who literally have not left campus since they’ve been here, which is dumb and really sad. But then there are people like me, who leave campus every chance they get. If you come to Columbia and just stay on or around campus, then you probably aren’t going to like NYC because the area around campus is mad boring and it’s an extremely grown up and residential area of NYC. But if you venture out, past 125th street into Harlem forreal, downtown to Union Sq., Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown, the lower Eastside, Brooklyn, even to freaking Coney Island, the other boroughs, NYC gets pretty freaking cool. If you’re coming here to get tumblr famous though, you might be disappointed as well, I mean, it could happen, but you’re here because you’re in college, and that does take the forefront of your life and your City experiences.

Ok. So, this is getting pretty long, and I feel like people aren’t even going to read this all the way down to here, but if you do, and you have anymore questions about Columbia just let me know, preferably off anon :)

I’ve also been toying around with the idea of making a vlog/blog about what it’s like being a black girl at Columbia, so if that would be at all helpful to anyone, just let me know, and I can maybe get started on that :)

[niyystudy-blog]

How to write a bomb ass personal statement

I’ve had a few asks about how to write - as one of you put it - a bomb ass personal statement. I’m a bit reluctant to write this, seeing as I haven’t actually got an interview/offer yet! But I guess it might be helpful to those of you applying around now :)

HOW TO START

Bullet point what you want to include - I suggest listing out what you want to include. It’s a good idea to do this at the beginning, to make sure you don’t leave anything out; and it can help form the basic structure of your statement.

Do not start at the start - this is one of the most important things I learnt when writing mine. It is so hard to write that first sentence - so just leave it until the end, and begin writing with the actual content, something you’re more comfortable writing about.

When you do get down to writing that first sentence - do not start with a cheesy quote or the typical “I have always bee passionate about…” as these are things that can immediately put off an admissions tutor. Try and be original, or just simple: “I want to study X because…”

THE CONTENT

Just keep writing - don’t worry about the 4,000 character and 47 line limits. Literally just write, and keep going, even if you think what you’re writing is bad - just get all your ideas out there, and put down everything you would want to include. It’s so much easier to take things out rather than adding things in. My personal statement was around 8,000 characters at one point!`

Get the balance right - different unis want different things from personal statements, so check their websites to make sure you’re getting in what they want. You need to get the balance of intellectual curiosity/passion for the subject with your personal qualities and extra-curriculars. 

Back up everything with evidence - don’t just say you are great at working in a team, give examples that demonstrate that you have worked well in successful teams in the past.What to include?

WHAT TO INCLUDE

Why you want to study that particular course

Why you are the right person to study the course

Extra things you have done to show commitment or interest about the course - volunteering, subscriptions to journals, further reading etc.

Any relevant work experience

Any relevant awards you’ve won (e.g. maths challenge or physics olympiad) or responsibilities within the school (e.g. prefect or house captain)

Demonstrate desirable skills for your course - problem solving, teamwork, leadership etc.

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE

Cliches - like “Ever since I was born I have wanted to study…”

Quotes - this is a personal statement, so don’t start quoting other people! Plus way too many people do this to make it original.

Jokes - it may be that the person reading your statement has a very different sense of humour than you do.

Really long sentences - you want your personal statement to be as easy as possible to read, and long confusing sentences won’t help that.

Repetition - it’s such a short document, you don’t have space for this. Plus it gets boring!

Names of unis - the unis you apply to have no idea where else you have applied, so don’t name any of them in your statement.

THE ENDING

Do not end on a cheesy quote or joke. Just sum up why you’d be a great candidate and reinforce what you have told them throughout the main body of the statement - that you’re fabulous!

Once you have finished a draft you can start trying to cut down on the word count. Maybe ask a teacher to look at your spelling/grammar, and you can always get your friends’ opinions too, on what should come out, and what should be kept in. Make sure you don’t let other people have too much influence - it has to be a personal statement!

[niyystudy-blog]

College applications can be seriously stressful and overwhelming. After going through the process a few months ago and getting into both schools I applied to, I thought I’d share a few tips and a general timeline to shoot for! 

as soon as possible

Begin making a list of colleges you’re interested in and researching them.

Start thinking about what extracurriculars you want to list; drop the ones you don’t care about to give you more time for the ones you enjoy most. 

Think about the teachers that know you the best and ask if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation. 

six months before applications are due

Narrow down your list to your top choices only.

There’s no point in wasting money applying to colleges you don’t want to go to!

Look at the Common App essay prompts and start brainstorming topics.

as soon as applications open

Fill out the easy parts of the application – your name, address, etc.

Make a list of any fields that you will need help filling out (like if you’re not sure what your advisor’s phone number is).

Start rough drafts of your essays, even if you aren’t sure of the topics.

three months before applications are due

Nail down essay topics and begin serious revisions.

Ask people if they would be willing to proofread your essays.

Visit campuses if possible, or speak to an admissions counselor to better tailor your applications to each school.

one month before the due date

Send essays to the people that have agreed to go over them.

Finish up the questions portion of the application.

Enter in actives and have someone proof them.

Begin final edits of essays.

Contact the teachers that are writing your letters and add them as recommenders on Common App (if that’s what you’re applying through). 

one week before the due date

Finalize your essays.

Have a parent review your application make sure all the information is accurate. 

Make sure all test scores, transcripts, and any other supplemental materials are in order and will be sent on time.

Submit your applications as soon as possible so you’re not stressing about getting it in on time!

a few things to keep in mind

There’s no right number of schools to apply to.

I applied to two, my sister applied to one, and I have friends that applied to ten. Do your research and narrow it down as much as possible to save time and money, but above all make sure that you’re happy with the schools you choose. 

Schools want to see applicants that are unique and passionate about something. It’s not so much about finding a student that’s done a million different things and is a member of every club, but finding one that shows dedication and individuality through their application.

They can tell the difference between an essay written by a high school senior or college transfer and an adult pretending to be one – don’t ever ever ever hire someone out to write yours for you. 

Be creative with extracurriculars if you think you don’t have enough! Everything from babysitting your siblings to coding themes counts.

Seriously never underestimate the importance of having other people proofread. You’ve been looking at your essays for so long that you would never catch that one bit of an old sentence sandwiched in between a new one, but someone else will. 

Don’t sweat it! You’ve totally got this.

[niyystudy-blog]

those different essays that keep popping up tips

the “why you wanna come here” essay

mention a department you really like, a professor you really like, a lab you really like, a program you really like

sometimes aspects of the school like an extensive research program, an internship program, an interesting major, a school philosophy will stand out (for instance, one school i applied to prided itself on balancing the humanities with STEM, which was a big focus in my essay)

talk about your experience when you visited or how you heard about the school and all the good things

any articles you read on it will help, basically just research a lot, talk about your interview (if applicable), talk about their programs and unique points

it wouldn’t be a bad idea to talk about your interests (briefly) and why that school is uniquely good for you

the “what do you want to study” essay

again, mention a field, or if undecided, then talk about diverse interests

if you have a specific field, talk about your experiences (like for engineering, i talked about robotics and my internship and how that shaped my career path)

overcoming challenges, discovering new interests, creating connections with others, and becoming a leader are all good things to mention here if possible

if you don’t know what to study, thats totally ok, but talk about your different interests, maybe how you plan to proceed with finding a specific course of study, or talk about a program you’re interested in at the school

the “challenge” essay

this essay is a challenge

you really gotta come up with something pretty good or at least try to; try to find something that involves being a leader and taking action/responsibility or maybe going out of your comfort zone.

tell it like a story!! talk about the problem then how you resolved it (ideally it should be a challenge you resolved?? it could also be one that went unresolved but you have to be v careful in that case)

tl;dr show off your good aspects like leadership, keeping calm, trustworthiness, etc etc etc

the “talk about something you haven’t talked about essay

i usually used this one for any topic i wanted to talk about but didnt get the chance to

basically waht i mean is i had three main topics i wanted to hit in every application: my internship, my sport, my music. If i didn’t get a chance to talk about one through an essay, I’d use my talk about whatever essay to talk about it.

why is this double spaced

don’t waste this!!! this is a pretty good spot to show how you’re unique and tell a very “you” story to distinguish yourself from all the other applicants. 

but also you can def use like another essay you wrote for another prompt for another school here if you find it appropriate -always make sure to reuse topics and ideas when possible~~

anyways if you guys have any questions about essays or in general, hmu–im p stressed about my own essay anyways :/

[niyystudy-blog]

hey guys!! 

so since i’m a rising senior i’ve been working hard all summer in preparation for applying to colleges this coming fall. throughout the duration, i’ve found some amazing websites to help you through the process, and resources i think are worthwhile to check out. 

email

set up an email specifically for colleges (best to do this before/during junior year) b/c

your inbox will overflow with college emails

you will hate yourself if you don’t

use it as your email for college-oriented websites you sign up for

put it on interest cards you fill out during college fairs/visits

colleges are going to email/spam you 24/7 just direct them here honestly

google drive

make a folder for college

put your essays in there

you can share essays with editors really easily this way

make a spreadsheet of all the colleges you are applying too with categories like size, type, location, etc. 

make a list of achievements, awards, teams, clubs/extracurriculars, etc. that you can refer back to during applications

make sure to have an emergency flashdrive with your important college documents on it

finding colleges & stats

cappex: helps find colleges that fit you, calculates admissions chances, helps you plan college visits, helps with scholarship search, etc.

through cappex you can access meritaid, a great scholarship resource

naviance: a college readiness worksite site that does a ton and is basically a combination of every single site listed. it’s used through your school, normally, so get in contact with your counselor about making an account

unigo: this site gives reviews/advice/experience from current or former college students regarding the school they attended, and also offers tips and tutorials for admission from professionals, plus a college database

collegenavigator: exactly what it sounds like. this site has a ton of info on schools and it’s really easy to use

collegeboard: general resource! 

collegedata: lots of statistics and overviews of schools

collegeresults: shows the graduation rates of colleges

collegeinsight: gives info about affordability, diversity, and student success

admitted.ly: this is an awesome website (and app) for matching you with schools, and it’s really organized/manageable as well

collegeniche: this is basically yelp for colleges. reviews for students, by students, about specific colleges

organization/tracking

overgrad: tracks college and career goals

makemeafreshman: this website is an actual godsend. enter all the colleges you are applying to (including what type, such as early action, early decision, etc.), and it will generate a schedule of things you need to do and specific dates they need to be done by (submitting fees, completing the commonapp and FAFSA, etc.)

scholarship oriented

posse: organization that identifies gifted scholars, then groups them into “posses” by region, and hands out full scholarships to top colleges 

questbridge: links exceptional students (esp. low-income) with colleges, scholarship providers, enrichment programs, and employers

college greenlight: amazing for finding scholarships to apply for (they can find a scholarship for anything), plus does college matches based on criteria you give

majors

collegemajors101: provides info about a variety of majors, like course requirements, career options, etc.

i’ll definitely keep adding to this list, and if you have any questions about the sites or have some you think should be added, please message me!

remember, the best thing you can do is get things done early. summer’s not over yet and there is still a lot of time between now and application due dates. make the most of it! get organized, and get educated about college.

happy studying/applying!

[niyystudy-blog]

Strong words to use on a Resume

If you have ever had to write a resume for work or for an application, then you know the hardest part is figuring out what type of words to use that sound professional and and intelligent.

Example: If an application asks you if you have any relevant experience for a job at a day care center and you have experience, like you have babysat children. You would look at the words in the columns to see what words you should use that will help your resume stand out. You might put down “Have supervised and attended to children on a regular basis.”

I hope this is helpful to you.

[niyystudy-blog]

[niyystudy-blog]

Part 2 of the Heading to College Series! This part covers advice for actually applying to college! Talks about choosing colleges, organizing your apps, actually applying, and other general tips!! Enjoy~

Choosing Colleges: Academics

If you have an idea of what you think your career path will be, check out college rankings to get an idea of the colleges you should look into! (US News etc.)

Look at the stats for the colleges you’re interested in, so GPA and test scores of those who applied to their schools and those who get in

Break schools up into 3 categories: Reach/Dream, Match, and Safety. Reach schools are the ones you REALLY want to go to but maybe your numbers don’t cut it. Match schools are the ones whose admittance records match your own; these are the ones you’ll likely get into. Safety schools are ones where your numbers surpass or are on the higher end of those who get admitted.

Choosing Colleges: Location

But academics aren’t everything! Look at the location of schools too as well as the atmosphere and type of focus their students have (chill, competitive, party etc.)

I can’t stress on location enough make sure you’re comfortable with the distance all the schools you’re applying to are to your home.

Location is also important in terms of the sort of opportunities available in the area. Like, if you’re going to major in Comp Sci, you want to make sure there are CS internships and stuff around the area you’re in. 

College App Personal Statements

Make sure your voice comes through, these essays are how the admissions people get a feel of the sort of student you’d be on their campus and the contributions you’d make

First personnnnnnn; brag man this is your sales pitch for yourself

Keep in mind that those people read thousands of applications, so make yours enjoyable to read

You don’t need to write as much as you can, go for quality over quantity

Make each college you right for think they’re your dream school. Even if it’s a safety.

Remember, you want to go to college but colleges don’t necessary want you. Change their minds.

You’re most likely going to write a ton of rough drafts before settling on “The One”; say what you mean and mean what you say!!

Sometimes/Most times your senior English class will review statements in class. Get as many revisions from your teacher as you can!

Organization and Time Management

Make a spreadsheet listing all the admission due dates for all the schools you plan to apply to. Check it as often as possible. Check out Part 3 of the Heading to College Series for a few downloadable spreadsheets I made!

Try to get things done a week or at least a couple of days before deadlines. Give yourself that buffer and you’ll thank yourself when all your friends are writing last minute personal statements.

The Common App does sometimes crash/get super slow right before midnight so don’t wait that long!!

Know the difference between Early Decision and Early Action. ED is binding so if you get in, you gotta go. It’s strongly recommended to only do on ED school. Most chose a reach bc “there’s less competition” than regular apps but tbh I don’t think the difference is that great. Do your own research specific to the schools you’re interested in! Early Action isn’t binding and you chose to go or not go on the normal date of May 1st.

After Apps

Relax!!!! This is the time for you to enjoy hs!

Just stay on top of your grades

Senioritis is real just fyi

Make sure you thank your hs counselor and rec letter writers! They do not get paid for the extra time they put into writing those recs!!!! Show them some love. Gift cards, brownies… anything you can manage for a heartfelt thank you!

Other Tips!

If you really wanna push yourself, there are some private college counselors in various areas that you could look into. They are expensive but since this is their only job, they may be able to better help you. They’re also worth looking into if you feel like your hs counselors aren’t being helpful enough (one that comes to mind in CA at least is Elite Ed. Inst.)

Check out the social media accounts of the schools you’re interested in!

Cappex is a great site to see where you stand for colleges (but still not completely accurate!!)

College Confidential is great to see more personal summaries of student who’ve gotten into schools, ask questions, and discover questions you didn’t even know you had!

Community college is a great option: saves you a ton of $$$, statistically easier to transfer into universities, less focus on any unfavorable high school grades or something, more time to figure out your path, some schools have pipelines with public colleges

If you’re going to get financial aid, the FAFSA opens January of your starting year. 

Periodically talk to your hs counselor to make sure you’re on track

More Heading to College Masterposts!

[niyystudy-blog]

Part 3 of the Heading to College Series! I mentioned making a spreadsheet to organize all your college app things, so here is one I made for y’all! You can totally customize it to your needs and make it work for you. I’ve included all I could think of that would be helpful and the sections that I had included in my spreadsheet when I applied! Hope it helps!!

Everything is hosted on Google Drive. Just download from there!

Overall/All in On Excel file

College App Deadline Breakdown Excel file

Letter of Rec Breakdown Excel file

College Interview Breakdown Excel file

College Tours Breakdown Excel file

Financial Aid Breakdown Excel file

College Acceptances Breakdown Excel file

More Heading to College Masterposts!

[niyystudy-blog]

do you have any advice for applying to college in general and/or for specifically applying to ivy league colleges? thank you!

Okay, here’s the thing about applying to any college, but especially a highly selective college like an Ivy: it’s all a numbers game. Literally, the admissions office will boil everything you’ve spent the last few years working your ass of for down to a handful of numbers and it sucks, but that’s how it is.

At an Ivy, everyone is going to have your test scores, your grades, and a bunch of extra curriculars. Not that you have to give up hope, hope is good, but it’s something to keep in mind. Still, there are things you can do and some things you can’t control.

Some things you just can’t control: race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, your school and state, your parents’ education level. Schools are trying to build a diverse coalition of students from different races, income levels, and parts of the world and being “different” from their normal (read: rich white male and probably northeastern) can help.

Don’t lie about this stuff, obviously but if you do have something that makes you more diverse, share a bit about that if you feel comfortable. (My Common App essay was about how my ethnic identity was tied into my inability to speak Spanish, for example.) This especially helps if your school puts special emphasis on their diverse population (*cough*Columbia*cough*)

Get good letters of rec. Remember all letters are going to recommend you go this school so pick teachers who know you well enough to help you stand out. Ask teachers who you have more of a personal relationship with. who liked you and had you for multiple years, if possible. If you can, ask teachers in the field of study you would like to pursue, as long as they’re a core class (English, math, history, science, language, etc.)

 If you have an arts or music teacher, coach or gifted teacher who knows you very well and can add a more personal touch to your application, submit something from them as a supplemental second or third letter: most schools allow for this. Don’t send more than one though. Two to three letters is enough.

If you have one class that’s a little bit more rough than the others (@AP Calc for me this year) try to work for an upward trend in that grade to show you’re dedicated to improving in the places where you struggle. Yeah, you have to have good grades for an Ivy, but they know you aren’t perfect. They just want to see you’re trying.

Take advantage of alumni or campus interviews and use them to make yourself seem more human. My Harvard interview was actually a lot of fun: we talked about fake news, fanfiction, being LGBT at Harvard, and a bunch of other stuff. These people see a lot of rote answers that are just people reciting their resumes for an hour. Be polite and polished, don’t be a afraid to brag a little, but be yourself.

Also, if you have gaps in your application (example: I couldn’t afford subject tests, which Harvard recommends) this is often your place to explain those. Take advantage of that.

Don’t load up on extra curriculars. It’s stressful as hell (speaking from experience here). Instead pick a handful and show dedication to them. Stay with them throughout your high school career and take on leadership roles where you can.

If you have more specific questions, let me know! Hopefully this is a start though. 

i’m literally begging you guys to distract me

[niyystudy-blog]

Here is a masterpost of the details about how I got into an Ivy League school with a ton of scholarships. 

Keep reading