How to Turn Your Interest or Hobby Into an Extracurricular Activity

Some sections of your college application are open to more interpretation than others. For example, your grades or standardized test scores are numbers that can’t be changed, and they will serve as concrete evidence of your academic achievement and potential. But other sections, like the extracurricular section, can involve a little more creative thinking as you craft them.

Of course, if you’ve been involved in a few high school clubs or played on a sports team, this section might be cut and dry. You have participated in obvious, structured activities that neatly fit under the extracurricular heading. But the line isn’t always so clear-cut. What happens when you’ve passionately pursued an outside interest, spending significant amounts of time and energy doing so? Or what if your family commitments take up most of your time outside of school hours? How can these activities be grouped into extracurriculars, and how will they stack up against those of a more traditional nature?

For high school students planning their college applications, the extracurricular section of the application can be very important. With admissions becoming more and more competitive, you need to shine both in terms of academics and extracurriculars.

If you’re considering how to mold your casual interest or hobby into an extracurricular that will truly shine on your college applications, this is the post for you. Here, we will review the working definition of what makes an activity an extracurricular, and then outline five specific ways that you can ramp up your participation to create a focused and meaningful extracurricular for your college applications.

What Is an Extracurricular Activity?

An extracurricular activity can be almost any hobby or interest that you pursue outside of school.  In order to be considered an extracurricular activity, it simply needs to meet a few basic criteria.

First of all, it needs to be something that you participate in with some regularity over an extended period. Volunteering at the soup kitchen once doesn’t count because it isn’t something that you do regularly. Similarly, taking a weeklong Spanish class at the library also isn’t a great example, unless you do so every semester. Instead, it needs to be something that you participate in on a fairly regular basis. The longer your participation lasts, the more established your activity will appear on your college applications.

Next, it needs to be something that is not a part of an academic class at your school. For example, your advanced math classes at school don’t count, because they are already included in your grades and on your transcript. Even if a class is not technically a required one at your school, if you take it during school hours and it weighs into your grades, it is generally considered academic coursework rather than an extracurricular activity.

If, however, you took advanced math classes at a local community college or through your local library, those would qualify as extracurriculars, as they are something you have pursued in addition to your school work. Similarly, if you teach yourself a foreign language, that would also count, since you are doing so outside of your formal courses.

Finally, an extracurricular should be something that you care about. While this line is a little more blurry than the clear-cut examples above, you will have difficulty shaping an activity about which you care very little into a meaningful experience on your college application.

For example, if you mow your neighbor’s lawn once a week because your parents ask you to, but you do so grudgingly and need to be hassled to do it, listing this as Volunteer Neighborhood Landscaping would probably be a misrepresentation of what you’ve actually done. If, however, you make an arrangement with the elderly neighbors to mow their lawn and pull their weeds because you care about them and making their lives easier, it most certainly could be an activity that you expand on to create a meaningful extracurricular on your college applications. The spirit of your participation does matter.

How Do I Turn a Hobby or Interest Into a Strong Extracurricular?

Almost any hobby or interest can count as an extracurricular, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will, on its own, be a strong addition to your college application. There are a few key things you can do to turn a regular hobby or interest into a strong extracurricular. Here are our five favorites.

1. Join Others

There is power in numbers, and extracurriculars are no different. If you participate in your hobby or pursue your interest with others, you will learn from them, and your experience will quickly multiply. It’s likely that each person in the group will bring their own unique strengths and insights, so you will gain more collective knowledge by working in each other’s company.

Not only that, but participating together will mean you can potentially reach more people if you turn your activity or interest in a project. Maybe you are producing goods that can be sold or donated. Maybe you are sharing your skills with others. Whatever the case may be, pooling your resources will allow you to do more of it than you’d be able to do alone.

Finally, participating together will help you to hold yourself more accountable. There will inevitably be times when you feel too busy or stressed to devote much time to your independent extracurriculars, but if you know that others are counting on you to join them, you’ll be more likely to follow through on your commitments. The group context gives your activity some sense of formality.

2.  Branch Out

Another way to expand your reach, aside from joining others in your pursuit, is to join or pursue other related, similar activities. For example, think of activities that are closely related or otherwise relevant to your interests that would reinforce your commitment to it.

If your hobby is creating visual art, consider taking an online art history course or organizing a school trip to the museum. If you teach computer skills at your grandmother’s nursing home, think about taking a programming class or rebuilding a computer.

By pursuing related activities, you reinforce your interests and show that you are committed to this hobby beyond the casual level; you’re invested in deepening your participation by branching out to related fields.

3. Quantify Your Participation

Putting a number on your participation or quantifying your results is an especially strong way to drive home your commitment. Particularly if you are participating in or pursuing this activity or interest independently, it’s important that you try to find a measurable way to count your work or progress.

There are many ways to do this. For example, if you’re teaching yourself a foreign language, enroll in an online class that will result in a certificate of completion or take a national language exam at the end of the year to measure your progress. This will serve as a concrete testimonial of your work. Similarly, if you’re creating visual art, start to keep track of the time you spend on it and the number of pieces you produce. If you’re teaching computer skills at a nursing home, keep track of how many “students” you instruct.

Being able to put a number or offer some other form of concrete achievement in relation to your activity will further legitimize it.

4. Incorporate A Service Element

Finding a way to give back through your hobby makes it more meaningful, and you can do so on your own or with others.

For example, if you’re creating visual art, consider donating artwork to a local hospital or volunteering as a youth art instructor. If you’re teaching yourself a foreign language, think about volunteering at a local clinic or shelter where a large population of native speakers seek services. Or if you’re teaching computer skills at a nursing home, start a fundraiser to buy some laptops or iPads to keep in the library there.

If you put your head to it, it’s possible to come up with a service angle for nearly any activity or interest.

5. Share Your Work

Another way to give back is through simply sharing the products of your experience or interest. Organize a night to share your skill with others by attending an open mic night, putting together an art show, or creating another opportunity to share your skill.

If you are teaching computer classes, set up drop in hours to create new email accounts for interested students. If you are teaching yourself a new language, host a foreign film night at your school and provide subtitles so that everyone in the audience can appreciate it.

By creating a formal event that showcases your work or highlights your new skills, you formalize your participation and interests in a tangible way.

Still wondering? Come chat with us! 

How Your Summer Plans Factor Into Ivy League Admissions

Preparing to apply to the Ivy League is no joke. You have to consider your marks, class rank, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities. Now more than ever, selective colleges can have their pick of the top students in the country as top acceptance rates stoop well below 10%. To compete with the best, you have to ensure that your application is even more compelling than theirs.

It’s no wonder that when summer rolls around, you might be ready for a break. We don’t blame you, but if you’re sizing up your summer months and their weight on your college application, be sure not to rest too long. Ivy league colleges are definitely interested in how you spend your summer months.

To learn more about how the Ivy League weighs your summer activities and what you can do this summer to impress Ivy League admissions committees, keep reading.

Why Ivy League Admissions Care How You Spend Your Summer Vacation

There’s no doubt that after the hustle and bustle of the school year, you may be feeling weary, but summer is no time to put on the brakes. In fact, many selective colleges view your summer activities as a window into how you choose to spend your free time. What you choose to do with this unstructured time speaks volumes about your dedication, ambition, and academic prowess.

Ivy league admissions are among the most competitive in the country. Being at the top of your class and achieving high test scores combined with national recognition in extracurriculars sometimes isn’t enough to gain admissions anymore. As such, Ivy league admissions committees use your summer activities as a gauge for your independence and ambition.

Furthermore, many students have trouble thinking outside the box when it comes to summer activities. While it’s easy to sign up for college classes online or apply to a selective internship, it takes another level of independence and motivation to seek out and create your own opportunities.

What Qualities Should You Showcase Through Your Summer Activities?

Beyond showcasing your initiative and ambition, you should also think about highlighting more personal qualities. The Ivy league wants to attract students who will be positive contributors to their community. This means exhibiting qualities like leadership, compassion, and morality.

Many students consider spending their summers involved in service work. Service work is a great way to demonstrate that you care about others, but you need to think carefully about the opportunities that you pursue. There are countless programs available abroad that advertise a summer of volunteerism, but your ability to affect actual, lasting change working within these programs can sometimes be limited.

Keep in mind the recommendations from Harvard’s ongoing Making Caring Common (MCC) campaign, which suggest that meaningful service is found not through grandiose high profile service trips but rather through personal connections, sustained participation, and involvement in the community.

If you already know of a service project that’s near and dear to your heart, by all means, take advantage of this time to get involved. If you can sustain your involvement into the school year, so much the better. If possible, try to find a project that is personally relevant to you or to a community that you’re involved in. Think about the issues that matter most to the people who matter most to you, and go from there.

If there are no local service projects that feel personally important to you, you might consider starting your own. Are there local kids who don’t know how to use the Internet because the elementary school doesn’t have a computer lab yet? Is there a retirement home in need of some energizing and outreach with younger people? How about crises like hunger, homelessness, or addiction? Any of these issues can be turned into a service project, and they will be all the more powerful if you can sincerely justify your involvement with a genuine personal connection.

You may want to gather some like-minded people to help, or you can get started on your own and then build support from friends and other connections along the way. Try to quantify your involvement the same way as you would for any other project. Log the hours that you spend and track any potential results, such as funds or resources raised and people reached. Tracking your impact will make it easier to quantify on your college applications.

Consider Your Future Career Ambitions

Finally, be sure to think about your career ambitions while deciding what you will do this summer. Ideally, you will be able to create an opportunity that merges your career interests with causes that are important to you.

For example, if you want to pursue a career in medicine and you live in an area battling an addiction crisis, creating a public health campaign about the resources available to opioid addicts in your community would be a strong option for you

Similarly, if you’re interested in majoring in music, fundraising for and creating a series of community concerts highlighting local performers would showcase your initiative, your passion, and your musical ability.

Summer is an important time and if the Ivy League colleges are your goal, you cannot mess this up! At Edbrand, we constantly mentor our students to perform to their best and spend time wisely. Come learn about bespoke research project program as well our personal branding process! 

What are SAT Subject Tests?

Most likely, you are accustomed to hearing about the SAT as a singular test that is used by college admissions committees to gauge your college and career-readiness. In actuality though, the SAT isn’t just a standalone test. In fact, there is, as the College Board refers to it, an entire SAT Suite of Assessments, beginning with the PSAT 8/9 and progressing to the singular SAT test that you’ve undoubtedly heard so much about.

SAT assessments don’t end there, either.

Beginning in 1937, the College Board began to offer a series of subject-specific standardized tests. First known as Achievement Tests, then as SAT II: Subject Tests, they are now simply called SAT Subject Tests. Each SAT Subject Test is a multiple-choice test administered over the course of one hour, of which there are 20 to choose from. When taken strategically, these tests serve to improve your chance at admission to colleges by highlighting unique subject-specific knowledge that might otherwise not be apparent.

What SAT Subject Tests are available?

Currently, SAT Subject Tests are available for the following subjects:

MATH

• Math Level 1

• Math Level 2

LANGUAGES

• Korean with Listening

• Chinese with Listening

• Spanish with Listening

• French with Listening

• German with Listening

• Japanese with Listening

• Italian

• Spanish

• French

• German

• Modern Hebrew

• Latin

SCIENCE

• Physics

• Chemistry

• Biology – Ecological

• Biology – Molecula

ENGLISH

• Literature

HISTORY

• U.S. History

• World History

These tests aim to highlight your strengths in areas that might be less obvious to college admissions committees. They are a great chance to draw attention to skills you’ve developed independently or to areas of your academic focus to which you’ve devoted extra time or dedication. SAT Subject Tests can also help to indicate your interests or intended path of study in higher education, and at some colleges can even help you to place out of introductory classes. 

Do I have to take SAT Subject Tests?

Short answer: no. SAT Subject Tests are not a graduation requirement and are not universally required for college admissions, so you do not technically have to take any of them. That being said, many colleges and universities will require SAT Subject Tests of some variety. There are several ways in which colleges use SAT Subject Tests as a part of their admissions procedures.

Some colleges might ask you to submit a specific number of SAT Subject Test scores, but they allow you to choose which tests you take. These colleges most likely want to see how well you perform in your strongest areas of interest.

Other colleges might specify exactly which SAT Subject Tests are required for admissions. These colleges place weight in certain subject areas and want to make sure that they have a standardized measurement of your performance within that content area. 

Finally, some colleges that don’t normally require subject tests for general admissions may still require specific SAT Subject Tests if you’re applying to a specific program at the school. For example, if you’re applying to a dedicated engineering program, you may be asked to submit a score from the Physics SAT Subject Test, or if you’re applying as a premed student you might need to submit a score from the Chemistry SAT Subject Test.

In any case, you’ll need to research the specific schools and programs to which you’re applying to make sure that you know the exact requirements of each.

Should I take SAT Subject Tests even if they’re not required?

If the colleges or universities that you’re applying to don’t require SAT Subject Tests, you may be tempted to skip them altogether. After all, standardized tests can be a stressful experience even if they’re not required for admission. Remember, though, that the SAT Subject Tests bring benefits besides just filling a requirement.

College admissions can be a competitive game, and SAT Subject Tests can help to set you apart from the field. Just because the college you hope to attend does not require you to submit them for consideration, it does not mean that they are not considered at all if you choose to submit them anyway. In fact, admissions committees will still review your scores and use them to create a more complete picture of you as a candidate.

And remember, with Score Choice, you can choose which scores you submit. Unlike with SAT exams, you do not have to submit all your scores from a single test day. Instead, you can pick and choose exactly which SAT Subject Test scores you send, thereby maximizing your opportunity to highlight areas of strength. If you perform poorly on an SAT Subject Test, you don’t have to send the score to anyone. On the other hand, if you perform exceptionally well, it would be silly not to include that score on your college applications, whether it’s required or not.

Further, SAT Subject Tests can draw attention to areas of strength that might not be readily apparent on the rest of your application. Do you speak a foreign language at home, attend summer programs for advanced sciences, or have a passion for U.S. History that you pursue outside of the classroom? Taking an SAT Subject Test is one way to show off the unique skills and understanding you have gained, in or out of the classroom. 

Last but not least, some colleges use SAT Subject Tests to place students into the appropriate courses when they matriculate. If this is the case at any of the schools you’re considering, make sure that you take the appropriate subject tests to get an appropriate class placement. You might even be able to place out of certain introductory requirements like foreign languages or mathematics.

For a list of colleges and universities that use SAT Subject Tests in some regard, check the College Board List of Institutions Using SAT Subject Test.

What is the format of SAT Subject Tests?

SAT Subject Tests are similar in format to individual sections of the SAT Test. They are all multiple-choice tests and they each take one hour to complete. Some tests, such as foreign language tests, contain a listening portion as well. SAT Subject Tests are scored on a scale from 200-800, just like the individual sections of the SAT.

When do SAT Subject Tests take place?

SAT Subject Tests are generally administered six times during each school year, on the same days and in the same test centers as the regular SAT. Keep in mind, though, that not all 20 Subject Tests are offered on every SAT date. At this time, Language with Listening Tests are only offered on the November test date, and several other tests also have limited availability.

Check the SAT Subject Test Calendar for specific dates and tests. Due to the limited dates on which some tests are available, it’s important to plan well ahead of time to make sure that you can schedule every test you want to take within the appropriate time frame.

How much do SAT Subject Tests cost?

There is a $26 flat registration fee for any administration of SAT Subject Tests. On top of the registration fee, you will pay $21 for each Subject Test you take on that day, or $26 for any Language Test with Listening. There may be other fees as well, such as late registration fees, registration by phone charges, or registration change fees. 

SAT subject tests are an extra burden. Take them only if the colleges you are applying require it. Otherwise, you can take that time to study something else!  

SAT vs. ACT: Which one is right for you?

The SAT and ACT  are two of the most popular standadized testing programs. While the SAT has had the larger presence in India, both are equally an instution of testing when it comes to undergraduate education in the United States. At Edbrand, we have seen scores differ widely with the same student as they take both the tests. The difference lies in the questions. To understand this better we’ll take you through both the tests and then dive into a comparative analysis. 

SAT 

The newly designed SAT was introduced in 2016 with four sections and an optional essay. 

Section 1: Reading (52 questions spread over 5 passages. Time allotted: 65 minutes) 

Section 2: Wrting (44 multiple choice questions on grammar, spread over 4 passages. Time allotted: 35 minutes) 

Sections 3 & 4: Math ( In all 58 Q to be solved in 80 min. Calculator not permitted for Section 3 whereas section 4 permits the use of Graphing display calculator) 

Optional essay, a commentary to be written in 800 words long argumentative prompt. 

ACT

Leaving minor changes aside, the pr esent structure of ACT has been around since 1989. It has four sections: 

English (75 Q – 45 Min) 

Math (60Q – 60 min) - Graphing calculator permitted 

Reading (40 Q – 35 min) 

Science (40 Q – 35 Min ) - Calculator not permitted 

The ACT essay is easier to write than the one on SAT as you are permitted to use your own examples here. 

So what’s the difference

1. The SAT is more a test of reasoning and logic and always attempts to size up your ability to improvise and act in a situation. The SAT syllabus is limited and an effective SAT prep can be put in place in as little as 30 hours, although that is not recommended. ACT , on the other hand , is a pure speed test and the questions here are generally on the easier side. The average time allowed per question on ACT (4 9 seconds), however, is 30% lower than that allowed on SAT (70 seconds). 
2. The Grammar sections on the two tests are pretty much identical. Although there are more rhetorical questions on SAT, you get more time to answer t hem as compared to the ACT. Students from any background can answer these , given appropriate inputs and adequate practice. 
3. The math sections on the two tests differ vastly in their scope and required approach and prep. SAT has a tiny syllabus and students irrespective of their math options in junior and senior years will be comfortable here given some additional inputs in areas like parabola and statistics. The questions can tend to be tricky though. Also, most of the SAT math questions are lengthy in wordi ng and inadvertently end up testing your reading speed as well. Time will not be a challenge on any of these tests for the math sections unless the student has a weak math foundation from the middle years of schooling. ACT math is highly curriculum based a nd students who do not hav e math as a subject in their high school will struggle here. High school math students will find ACT math simple as the questions are usually direct and superficial, merely testing one for the concept involved and not its applicat ion. That said, these students will take more time as the syllabus is large and loosely defined. Having prepared for ACT math with usually give the students an edge in their SAT math level 2 prep as there is almost a 50% overlap in the syllabus . 
4. The reading sections of the two tests are poles apart. My favorite line here is “SAT tests you for reading between the lines. On the ACT, you just have to read the lines; there are too many of them though ” . SAT reading is highly inferential requiring the student to u nderstand the passage in great depth and align herself with the thoughts of the author. ACT reading is direct and answers to all the questions can be found directly i n the passage. The only challenge here is attempting four long passages and 40 questions in a minuscule 35 minutes. 
5. ACT has a science section, which is not there on SAT. This section, in my opinion, should have been called Data Comprehension as it does not really test you on scien tific principles. Having all three sciences in freshman and sopho more years of high schools should suffice. Even if you do not have sciences in junior and senior high school years, you will usually do well here provided you know the technique. Students who have not studied Biology and Chemistry in Grade 9 or 10 ( Year 10 or 11 for some curriculums ) will struggle here. 

Recent Trends

ACT has been more or less a stable test over the last ten years and the actual tests have shown a gradual increase in difficulty level in the math and English sections and a gradual decrease in difficulty in reading and science sections. The October and December administrations, however, had a substantially lengthier reading. 

The redesigned SAT was introduced in March 2016 and till the January 2017 administration, it was more or less in line wit h the mock tests. From the May 2017 administration, the reading section has witnessed an increased level of difficulty. Another issue with SAT is the fact that only 8 official tests are available for practice. The ones published by private publishers like Kaplan and Barron’s are nowhere near the real test in terms of the level of difficulty or scope. For ACT, as many as 35 real tests are easily available for practice.

How do you choose? 

If you find the above description to be too much of a jargon to comprehend, I can recommend three basic questions that you should ask to make this decision. 

1. Have you opted for math at a standard of higher level in junior and senior years (this applies for IB students. ISC and CBSE students are doing this already)? 
2. Have you studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in class 9 & 10 
3. Were you able to attempt at least 34 questions on an ACT reading diagnostic and got at least 28 of these correct? 

If the answers to all three questions are yes, go for the ACT. If the answer to even one of these is no, opt for the SAT. Please refrain from conducting a full length diagnostic for both tests to decide. Students rarely have the stamina to last through a three - hour standardized test and this will rarely provide an accurate picture. 

Parents: 7 ways you can help your child as they enter class 10

For many parents, their teens’ high school years represent a difficult balance to strike. During freshman year, students may still need significant support and guidance from their parents, but by senior year, most parents hope that their students will soon be capable of venturing out on their own. The transition to independence during a time of such high stakes can be delicate to maneuver for many well-meaning parents who want to encourage freedom while still providing a safety net.

Sophomore year in particular can sometimes prove trying for the relationships between parent and teen. While freshman year represented transition and likely a great deal of excitement about the start of high school, by sophomore year that newness has worn off and students can no longer take as much time to acclimate as grades and coursework gain momentum.

If you’re the parent of a rising tenth grader you probably already know that during class 10 your teen will begin to take the first major steps towards realizing his or her college dreams. In this post, we outline ten considerations for supporting your teen through this transformational year.

1. Begin Talking About Life After High School

For many teens, the years after high school seem like a distant and abstract time. The reality, though, is that the future will be here before either of you knows it, and there’s no better time to start discussing it than now. Be an open sounding board for your teen as he or she discusses possible career choices, college preferences, and other ambitions. Try to offer insight and perspective without being overbearing.

2. Explore Careers

Starting during class 10, your teen is able to gain actual experience in certain career fields. Start a conversation about your teen’s interests and consider different angles for applying them towards a future career. Have conversations about interests and ambitions. Try to inspire some more thought about the future. Ask them for their summer plans and how an internship could help them understand what they might be

3. Take Personality or Career Tests

While it is still a bit early to think seriously about a future career, it’s never too early to bounce ideas around. Taking personality and career tests can actually be a fun way for your teen to start to consider options and to frame his or her strengths and interests in a productive way. Encourage your teen to explore some of these tests. Many are available online, and taking them with friends can even be a fun, social activity.

4. Attend Career Days

Another casual and fun way to explore future career options is through career days at school. You can help your teen to make the most of these events by perusing the event flyers in advance to preview who is visiting and what presentations sound most appealing.

If your teen is interested, encourage him or her to make a list of the presenters he or she would like to see. Your student might even wish to compile a list of questions for these professionals in advance to truly maximize the experience.

5. Delve Into the College Search

If you know you are going to study aborad, class 10 is the year that the college search begins to get real. If your teen has not already, he or she should begin to keep a college list. This list will grow and change with time, but it should reflect schools that your teen might consider attending. As time goes on, it will narrow in focus and your teen’s true college ambitions will become clearer.

6. Education Boards

Its time to start thinking about the boards you will be chosing for class 11 and 12. While most colleges recognize governemnt boards such as ISC and CBSE, this is the best time to look into other options such as the IB program as well as taking test to get college credeit such as the AP. Check out our IB vs. AP blog post to learn more.

7. Get More Involved in Extracurriculars

While class 9 was a time to explore new options and branch out, class 10 is time to focus in. Encourage your teen to identify the activities for which he or she truly has a passion, and to invest more time in these while letting other, less productive activities go. Ideally, your teen should eventually focus in on two or three extracurriculars that represent broad interests, ideally incorporating some kind of service element.

Need more information? Come have a chat with us

What’s an Elevator Pitch, and Why You Should Have One?

As you enter professional networking events and find yourself waiting in those long lines to talk to a potential employer, you may realize that those few minutes you get with an employer are crucial. In those few minutes, you need to express your interest to the hiring manager and tell him/her anything else about you that will make you stand out as an applicant.

How are you supposed to cram all of that information into a few minutes of conversation? The simple answer is that you should have an elevator pitch ready to go when you get there.

An elevator pitch is a common tool that both professionals and students use to summarize themselves in a short period of time. If you’re not sure that you need an elevator pitch as a high school student, here’s some brief points about what an elevator pitch really is and why a high schooler may want to write one.

What is an elevator pitch?

“Elevator Pitch” is a metaphorical way of describing a very brief spiel about yourself. The term was first used by an executive at Vanity Fair and is derived from the following scenario: If you were on an elevator ride and only had those thirty seconds to a minute to sell your qualifications to someone, you should be ready to give a brief summary of yourself.

More generally, an elevator pitch is a brief speech on the important, impressive, and memorable aspects of your academic and professional career. It highlights your most impressive and relevant past experiences, your main interests, and your short- and long-term goals. 

An elevator pitch is extremely useful to have on hand if you ever find yourself needing to give a summary of yourself with limited time or space. In fact, there are many situations you may encounter in which that will definitely be the case.

As already mentioned, networking events and job fairs provide the perfect opportunity to use an elevator pitch. Often, you only get a few minutes at a networking event to chat with a hiring manager or someone who could help you professionally. If you have an elevator pitch handy, you can ensure that you hit all the major selling points about yourself in those few minutes that you have.

An elevator pitch may also be helpful for you on college and job applications. For example, many college applications require a personal statement or interviews. While an elevator pitch is too short and vague to count as a personal statement, it can be used as a to showcase all your interests at the start of your college interview. After all, if you already know what you want to highlight about yourself, all you will have to do in crafting your personal statement is elaborate

Similarly, job applications sometimes provide an option for you to give a brief summary of yourself, either on the application or in the form of a cover letter to your resume. Like the college personal statement, these few-paragraph summaries would be much easier to write if you already knew your main selling points from crafting an elevator pitch.

How to Develop an Elevator Pitch

The first part of the elevator pitch is the easiest part. This is a brief sentence or two giving your name, what your current occupation is, and why you’re there. In your case, you’ll say something along the lines of, “Hi, my name is [name], I’m a [grade] student at [name of high school], and I am very interested in [name of position or college].”

The next part of the elevator pitch requires a bit more thought. This is where you want to highlight any interests and goals that would make the hiring manager or college consider you as a candidate or simply take notice of you. While you likely have many interests and ambitions, you want to pick two to three universal ones that will work in most networking situations.

For example, if you see yourself becoming an economist, the interests you pick should be at least slightly related to social sciences. Your goals should involve getting a bachelor’s degree, a masters or Phd, and doing research work.

Lastly, you should have at least one past experience or example of how you have tried to pursue your interests and achieve your goals. The aforementioned economics student would be sure to mention anything along the lines of working at a bank, think tank, or research group. 

The examples and past experiences you bring up do not have to be work or professional experience. In fact, as a high school student, you likely do not have that much work experience to speak of. Instead, you can draw on any clubs or extracurriculars that fit.

You should never try to make up an interest or a past experience. If you find yourself without an example of how you’ve pursued an interest or goal, choose a different one.

How long should an elevator pitch be?

Once again, the old metaphor of having a conversation in an elevator holds. You need to keep your elevator pitch short and concise, so that you can say everything that you need to say without boring a potential employer or college. Nobody wants to hear a person ramble about themselves for too long.

If you’re worried about the length of your elevator pitch, write or type it out. If it is longer than the average introduction to a high school essay, trim it down. If it’s shorter, feel free to elaborate a little bit more. Keep in mind that most high school essay introductions do not go past half a page. You can also try timing it aloud; an elevator pitch should last no longer than a minute when speaking at normal speed.

When to Use an Elevator Pitch

While an elevator pitch can be a great summary of who you are as a person, it’s not great for every social situation. For example, you shouldn’t use your elevator pitch if you are meeting someone in an informal setting like a college orientation. An elevator pitch is mostly for professional use.

However, as mentioned above, professional networking events and college applications and interviews are perfect places to utilize your elevator pitch.

One setting where an elevator pitch would be extremely useful is a college fair. This is not technically a professional setting, as you are not interviewing with the college advisors you meet nor are you necessarily going to apply to their university. However, college fairs generally have long lines of people waiting to talk to a single college representative. You will likely only get a few minutes with each college representative, so an elevator pitch is useful to keep the conversation succinct while still saying everything you want to say and leaving a positive impression.

Attending a college fair? Check out the 15 questions you should be asking. 

In fact, in a college fair setting, you may want to keep your elevator pitch shorter than usual. The college representatives at each table are trying to see every student in a very short period of time, so you may have even less time to chat with the college than you may anticipate.

It is also worth noting that an elevator pitch could also be useful when you are meeting your guidance counselor for the first time. Many college applications require counselor letters of recommendation. If you give them your elevator pitch, you will have inherently outlined the main goals, interests, and accomplishments that they should highlight in your letter of recommendation.

In general, you should use the elevator pitch in any networking session where you may have to mingle with adults. You may not always have to use it, but it is good to have it ready.

Conclusion

An elevator pitch can be a useful tool in professional settings as long as they are done right. If you follow the right format and know which instances to use it, an elevator pitch can genuinely impress an adult or future employer and leave a great first impression.

As a final tip, make sure you practice your elevator pitch. All of the sophistication goes away if you try to give your elevator pitch and have to pause and stumble the entire time! That being said, don’t over-rehearse. You don’t want to sound mechanical and robotic by regurgitating a script. Keep it natural.

Still confused? Come see us! 

IB vs. AP: What should you choose?

The Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs are both high school programs that offer college-level courses and the opportunity to earn college credit. So what’s the difference between the two programs? Does one look more impressive than the other? Which will improve your odds of getting into a top school the most?

We’ll introduce you to both programs, and explain which one will look more impressive on your college applications.

Key Differences

Both the AP and IB programs offer challenging courses to high school students that they can earn college credit for. But their philosophies and goals are quite different.

The AP program was developed in the US to help high school students prepare for college by taking advanced courses, with no set program of courses. Students could take just one or even a dozen AP classes, depending on their school, schedule, and goals.

In contrast, IB was developed in Switzerland to be an internationally recognized diploma. To earn the diploma, you have to take a certain amount of courses in a range of subjects. 

While both are exams for college credit in US colleges, IB curriculum is a lot more internationally renowned and credits aren’t contained to US colleges only

Program Goals

The programs have different goals, as well. IB has more emphasis on writing and developing critical thinking skills – and not just on the exams themselves. The IB diploma also requires the extended essay, a long, college-style research paper. The IB program also has extracurricular requirements.

In contrast, the AP is program focused on teaching students specific content and testing their knowledge on the exams. There is more multiple-choice and emphasis on meeting certain content goals.

Classes and Exams

You can take AP exams without being enrolled in a class, but you have to be enrolled in an IB class to take an IB exam. If you have proficiency in a language not offered by your school, or if you want to self-study for a niche subject like Art History, the AP program gives you more flexibility.

Also, IB offers higher-level and standard-level courses. To get an IB diploma, you have to take at least 3 higher-level courses. AP courses are offered at a single level, though there are certain subjects, like calculus and physics, that have different course options. IB higher level is at some high schools considered harder than AP. Most colleges give credit for AP exams and higher-level IB exams, but not all give credit for standard-level IB exams.

You can search the AP credit policy of various colleges at the AP college database.  The IB program doesn’t have a similar database, but you can look up the IB credit policy of any college or university by searching “[Name of College/University] IB Credit.”

You may be attracted to the IB program’s focus on writing and a broad education, or you may think the AP program’s flexibility makes it a better choice for you. Definitely take these program differences into account as you make your choice.

While in India, there aren’t many AP “classes,” there has been a rise in the number of queries about the exams itself. IB on the hand is growing rapidly and most private schools in metro cities offer the diploma 

Reputation at Colleges

So now that you know more about the two programs, we’ll get to the big question – which one do colleges prefer? Which one looks the most impressive?

Actually, colleges don’t automatically consider AP or IB harder or more impressive on a transcript. Since IB is a rarer program, they can’t penalize students for not taking it. Plus, there are huge differences in how both AP and IB courses are taught and graded at high schools across the country.

Because of this, colleges – especially the most selective ones – just want to see you have taken the most challenging course load available at your high school. That means instead of worrying about AP versus IB, you should worry about taking the most rigorous classes your high schools offers.

For example, Princeton says on their admissions website, “Whenever you can, challenge yourself with the most rigorous courses possible, such as honors, Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-enrollment courses. We will evaluate the International Baccalaureate (IB), A-levels or another diploma in the context of the program’s curriculum.”

AP v. IB in India

If you are choosing the IB program you are choosing to essentially not apply for college in India. While some colleges have started accepting IB scores, most are vary of it and well.. most of your peers will be going abroad. 

If you take the AP exams, you still have to choose a board in high school (ISC or CBSE). This means that the AP exams would be an extra set of exams that you study for and take during the same time that you get done with you board exams. 

The IB program will not only get you college credit but also a holistic education, getting you ready for a rigorous curriculum in college. 

Both options are great but it all depends on: 

1. The country you want to study in 
2. If you want to change your current educational board 
3. If you can have the mental and physical time to take another set of tests other than your board exams
4. If you want to learn something new or just get college credits

Still need help? Contact us!

15 Questions to Ask at College Fairs

As you go throughout high school, particularly during your Junior year, you ought to start thinking about which colleges you may want to apply to and form a preliminary college list. To help you narrow down your college choices and decide what schools would be a good fit for you, you can attend College Fairs in your school or local community.

College Fairs involve representatives from various universities coming to a school or community and pitching their university to prospective applicants. As a high school student, College Fairs are a great opportunity for you to show your interest in a particular college or university and ask questions to those who are most knowledgeable about the college.

It’s always good to come to College Fair prepared, and one of the best ways to do that is to prepare some questions to ask the college representatives so that you come across as an informed and serious applicant. To get you started, here are 20 great questions you could ask a college representative at a College Fair. Even if you don’t decide to ask some of these questions, you should still try to find their answers before you finalize your college list.

Academic Questions

    1    Does your school offer [major/minor program]? If so, can you tell me about it?

You shouldn’t ask a college representative about which majors and minors the university offers because oftentimes a college offers too many programs to list. Instead, you can show that you’ve given your college and career some thought by asking about a specific major or minor that you may be interested in. If you haven’t quite narrowed down your prospective major all the way, you can ask about a specific discipline like the sciences or humanities.

    2    What program(s} is the college noted for?

Give the college representative a chance to brag about the college (they love doing that)! Ask them what majors or minors are the most accredited at the university and why. This will give you some good insight into what degree program gets the most resources and which majors are the most competitive for admission. After all, you may not want to major in philosophy at a university where most of the funding, attention, and resources goes towards the engineering department.

    3    How do first-year students choose their classes?

This is a more important question than you might think. At some universities, freshman are given priority enrollment and can thus begin taking required courses for their degree as soon as they enter college. In other universities, however, freshman enroll later than other students and are given last priority, making it extremely hard to get into the classes they want. So if you’re trying to graduate early or pursue multiple majors in college, you should ask this question to clarify whether that would be possible at the university in question.

Admissions Questions

    1.    In what SAT score range/ACT score range do most of the admitted students score in?

If you’ve already taken the SAT/ACT and have received your scores, this question can indicate where you stand in comparison to admitted students and what your chances are of getting admitted. You can also use this as a gauge of whether you need to take the test again to try and achieve a higher score.

On the other hand, if you haven’t taken the SAT/ACT yet, this question can give you a goal score range to aim for.

This question is also a good gauge of the competitiveness of the college or university. The higher the average standardized test score for the university, the more competitive the school’s college admission is likely to be.

    2.    Are there any specific requirements for certain programs at the university?

Some colleges require extra application supplements like a portfolio, special interview, or audition (that one is mostly for performing arts majors). These requirements are not always obvious so it might be good to clarify with an admissions expert from the university.

If it turns out there are special requirements for the program you’re interested in, you can use the college fair as an opportunity to ask about and learn more about what the college wants to see in this extra supplement.

    3.    What percent of applicants are accepted to the university?

This question is a great way to gauge the competitiveness of a university’s college admissions. The lower the acceptance rate, the more competitive the university is. You should have a good mix of universities with low acceptance rates and high acceptance rates on your college list so that you apply to a good mix of safety and reach schools.

Financial Aid Questions

    1.    What financial aid programs does the college have?

This is a pretty vague question, and you may not receive a very specific or detailed answer. What may happen, though, is that the college representative will ask you about your financial situation, starting a bigger conversation about financial aid options that tailor to your specific needs or qualifications. Alternatively, the college representative could refer you to a website or an office that you can contact to find out this information.

    2.    What is the amount of the average financial aid package awarded to students at the university?

This is an important question not just for you as an applicant but for your family, who may be thinking about how they are going to afford to send you to college in a few years. You can use this question to decide whether attending a certain college is financially feasible, and you can also use the representative’s answer as a guideline for how you should be budgeting your money and saving for college during these next few years.

In general, you’ll probably find that private universities, while more expensive to attend, offer more financial aid, whereas public universities are cheaper but don’t always offer the same level of financial aid.

    3.    Are there separate deadlines for admission and scholarship applications?

Sometimes, colleges include their financial aid applications within the college application itself. In other instances, there’s a separate application, or even multiple applications, for financial aid awarded from the university.

    4.    Can you tell me about other fees and costs in addition to tuition?

Tuition is definitely not the only fee that universities charge, and it does not even remotely take into account the everyday costs of living in college. There are room and board fees, textbook fees, meal plan costs, etc. These costs tend to vary per university.

It’s worth asking this question to see how expensive it is to attend a particular college in comparison to other colleges you are considering. You can also use this question to see if the college representative mentions any college costs that you hadn’t thought of before.

Campus Life/Activities Questions

    1.    Does your university have [name of club/organization/activity]?

If there is one activity or club that you know you want to continue participating in in college, feel free to ask the college representative if it already exists at the university. Just keep in mind that they may not know the answer if it’s a club that is not very common or well-known on the college campus.

Always keep in mind that if a club doesn’t exist on campus, you can start one! So if the college representative says that an organization isn’t yet established on campus, you can follow up and ask if it’s possible for students to create organizations on campus. This demonstrates initiative and enthusiasm to the college representative.

    2.    What do students at the university usually do during their free time?

This question invites the college representative to tell you about the different on-campus and off-campus amenities along with various places to hang out. It’s an insider’s perspective that you may not be able to get by looking at an admissions website.

While the college representative is describing what students do in their free time, imagine yourself doing those same things. Do you see yourself doing the things a typical student at that university does? Use that answer to assess whether you think the college would be a good fit for you.

Post-College Questions

    1.    Is there job placement help for graduates?

At the end of the day, you are going to college so that you can eventually get a job and begin your career. However, in a competitive job market, a college education won’t always guarantee you a great first job. Sometimes, you need some resources and assistance from your university like a career center, information sessions from companies, resume help, interview prep, etc to set you apart from other job applicants. You ought to make sure that the college you are attending has at least some of these career resources so that you’ll be set up for good job placement in the future.

    2.     What do most graduates from the university go on to do?

Perhaps the college in question is great at getting students into graduate programs or med school, or perhaps their graduates are highly sought after by the Fortune 500 companies. You ought to attend a school whose alumni go on to do things that align with your post-college goals. If you do that, you’ll probably have an alumni network that can give you tips and potential job opportunities when it comes time for you to pursue your career.

    3.    How big/helpful is the alumni network on campus?

Colleges who stay in touch with their alumni are often able to get those alumni to provide tips and resources to current students such as connections with grad schools and companies, interview and resume tips, and even just a friendly face to chat with. The bigger and more extensive the alumni network, the more resources you’ll have while attending the university.

For More Information

Come talk to us to get information about colleges and questions about admissions!

5 Tips for Students moving to Class 9

Class 9 is a big deal. You’re finally starting high school! High school can be exciting, stressful, and at times, overwhelming. It’s also a time you should be exploring, trying out new opportunities, and making the most of your experiences. Here are five tips for starting off high school on the right foot.

Find Your Niche

Now that you’re older, you have more flexibility as to how you spend your time. Search for groups and activities that align with your interests. Not sure where to start? Try out different clubs at your school. 

Joining different clubs and trying out activities will allow you to meet new, like-minded people. It will also help you hone your area of specialization, or area that aligns with your interests and talents and path you want to pursue. This can guide your academic and career focus.

Try New Opportunities

In a similar vein, freshman year is a great time to try out new things. While every year matters, this year is lower stakes than the other high school years. Even if you’re not sure if you’ll like something, try it out and see. You can always cull your list of activities later. 

Get Organized

You may have heard that your grades don’t matter this year, but that’s not really true. While it is true that colleges won’t pay as much attention to this year as other years, you should get into the habit of studying and being productive now. That way, you’ll be in good shape later on. 

Think About the Future

It’s not too early to think about college. You don’t need to start filling out applications, of course, but you should be setting goals. Think about the path you need to take to achieve these goals. Set incremental “sub” checkpoints to help you achieve your larger aspirations. For instance, if you’re hoping to become the editor of your school newspaper, consider the steps you need to take to get there, such as attending meetings, writing killer articles, and bonding with and learning from the current editor and the newspaper’s advisor.

Use Your Support System

Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from parents, teachers, guidance counselor, older students, and even peers. If you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed, it can be helpful to talk to someone for support and guidance.

Take some time to get to know your teachers. You’ll probably have more than you did in middle school, and your teachers, in turn, probably have many students. Developing connections with your teachers can be a substantial addition to your support system, since it will give you another resource for academic help. Additionally, when it comes to ask teachers for college recommendations, your teachers will be able to speak to your character, not just the papers you’ve written.

High school won’t be easy, but try to get the most out of the challenges it brings. Take your time seriously, and create a plan for success. While you’ll face challenges along the way, having a plan, trying out new opportunities, and using your support system will help you manage your time well and prepare yourself for the future.

Why You Should Consider Colleges You’ve Never Heard Of

As you go through high school and start thinking about which colleges you will want to apply to, it can be very tempting to stick with the familiar. You’ve heard of the Ivy Leagues, a few highly ranked out-of-state colleges, and a few in-state schools that would lessen your cost. That’s already a pretty comprehensive list. Should you make that your college list and call it a day?

Unfortunately, that simple approach will not necessarily give you the highest chance of ending up at the school that is the best fit for you. While you’re evaluating colleges in order to form your college list, you need to do some research and figure out which colleges best align with your requirements and goals. Take into consideration things like geographic location, majors offered, cost of attendance, and other factors so that you can make an informed decision.

While doing your research, you may come across a school you’ve never heard of that looks perfect for you on paper. Should you rule that college out because it doesn’t offer the coveted “brand name” that employers look for? We at EdBrand recommend applying to colleges regardless of their brand or prestige as long as they seem like a good option for you. Not convinced? Read on to discover many reasons why it’s worth it to consider colleges you’ve never heard of.

The Lesser Known School Might Be Perfect For You

It is tempting to think that you would be able to get along at any college. However, not all colleges are right for every student. In fact, college admissions officers are aware of this and sometimes take that into consideration when making admissions decisions. Thus, it’s important, when considering colleges, to choose one that you think would be a good fit. What does it mean to fit with a college? Check out our previous blog post on the subject.

Some things you may want to consider when deciding whether a college is a good fit for you are:

    •    Location: Is a college far enough or close enough from home? Do you like the weather patterns of that geographic region?

    •    Size: Some students are comfortable with a large school with thousands of students and some prefer smaller universities with more individualized attention to each student.

    •    Majors: Does the college in question have a good academic program in your area of interest? There’s no use in applying to a college where you can’t study what you want to study.

    •    Student Life: Is the college known for having a thriving social scene? Is Greek Life popular at the college? Do the students who attend that university seem like people you would get along with?

    •    The Campus: Do you think you would enjoy being on that campus every single day? Is it aesthetic? Does it have the resources you need?

Finding a good fit is extremely important when it comes to choosing a college because you are probably going to spend the majority of four years at the university you choose. So if you find a college that isn’t well-known but seems like the perfect fit for you, it’s definitely worth applying to. You may be extremely happy there.

These Colleges are Often Cheaper

Brand name colleges are often expensive. Colleges know that there is high demand for their college because it is so well-known, so they are able to raise tuition costs if they see fit. Sometimes, these high costs can be a deal breaker for the student who is looking for an affordable college education.

On the other hand, sometimes lesser known colleges have lower tuition and other costs associated with attendance. In many ways, you could be getting a very similar education as someone at a brand-name university for a much cheaper price. If the lesser-known college has good programs that you desire and meets your other criteria, it makes financial sense for you to consider or even attend that college.

Smaller Student Body = A More Personalized Learning Environment

Oftentimes, you’ve never heard of a college because it has a smaller student body than most other colleges. Don’t take this as a strike against the college, though. It may not be that students don’t want to attend that college, but rather the college keeps its student body low so that each student can receive personalized attention and resources from professors, counselors, employers who visit, etc.

In this way, going to a smaller, lesser-known college could be the best decision for your learning. Rather than being thrust onto a giant campus and becoming another face in a sea of students, you could have a more personalized learning environment with less competition and more resources for you to succeed.

Less Competition

In big, popular universities with a giant student body, there’s a lot of pressure to outperform your fellow classmates to get those coveted positions in clubs or those prestigious internships. This can get overwhelming as you suddenly find yourself competing with thousands of highly qualified and accomplished students like yourself instead of a few hundred students from your high school.

In a smaller, lesser-known college, the student body is much smaller, and the resources are more available to you. Therefore, the culture of competition is significantly reduced, and you don’t always feel like you’re competing with everyone on campus. This can take a little bit of the pressure off of your (sometimes overwhelming) college experience.

Brand Name Colleges Only Get You So Far

The common view is that going to a prestigious, well-known college will help you get a good job and help you get a successful career. This is true to a certain extent. The college you go to can go a long way in helping you get that coveted entry-level job right out of college, and it can definitely give you some unique tools and resources that will train you for the professional world. However, once you’ve gotten that entry-level job and have been in the workforce for a few years, the brand name college doesn’t matter as much.

After a while, it will no longer be where you went to college that will define what positions you get in the professional world but your work ethic and accomplishments. This means that a brand name college will only do so much as getting you a great entry-level job. After that, you have to work your way up like the rest of the world.

Thus, if you attend a lesser-known college, that doesn’t mean you won’t have an illustrious career. Hard work and employable skills matter equally as much in the job market.

Making your college list and confused? We can help!