It’s that time of the year again. High school seniors are scrambling to finish their college applications and hoping to get into the college or university of their choice. If you are currently going through the application process or are thinking of applying to college, don’t overlook the importance of writing a stellar college essay.  

Practically every college or university requires its applicants to write an essay to be considered for admission. The essay is a key component in the college application process because it gives you the opportunity to establish personal connections with admissions officers (and if you are fortunate enough, the entire admissions committee). Some colleges and universities will require you to write multiple essays, each with its own set of instructions. In this case, you will be writing an essay based on a prompt, question, or hypothetical situation provided in the application.

While a high GPA and strong standardized test scores are important aspects of the college application process, a quality essay may strengthen your chance of admission at the school of your choice. Although other candidates may have higher SAT or ACT scores, you can impress admissions officers by writing a stronger essay. An essay written for admission to any college or university should be grammatically flawless, structurally coherent, and contain some of the applicant’s personal life story. Essays that provide examples of perseverance through harsh conditions and long odds may warrant special consideration from the admissions committee. An essay may also stand out if it highlights an attribute in the candidate which may add diversity to the college or university in question.

For example, if you are employed and successfully maintain your job while attending school, you may want to emphasize how this reflects your strength of character and ability to succeed. Feel free to also share a unique aspect about yourself that may enhance the diversity of the college or university. If you play an unusual instrument, such as the harp, or can speak multiple languages, let the admissions officers know! The admissions committee wants to know what sets you apart from other applicants. Every applicant has a personal story, and if your story is expressed the right way on paper, it may greatly increase your chance for admission. Take advantage of this opportunity and use the essay to share what makes you special.

Before you go, read on to find out about the Free Library of Philadelphia’s College Prep Program! And we’d like to know more about you... Feel free to answer the question below as a comment as well.

If you would like to receive personalized, one-on-one help with any aspect of the college application process—including writing your college essay—feel free to drop by the Free Library of Philadelphia’s College Prep Program. A College Student Coach will be available on most Saturdays to answer any of your questions and even review your essay if you would like!

Workshops and drop-in sessions are offered on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. at the following locations: Walnut St. West Branch, Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library, Northeast Regional Library and the Widener Branch. (Formal workshops are also offered at the Parkway Central Library on select Saturdays). For more information, please email Collegeprep@freelibrary.org or call 215-686-5372 Monday-Friday, between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Question: Where are you in the college application process? Are you a freshman in high school who is interested in attending college or a senior in the midst of finalizing college applications­­­­­—or somewhere in between?

Tags: College Prep

MYTH: I can’t afford to go to college.
FACT: College can be an affordable option.

With the rising price tags on colleges and universities, it’s easy to believe that higher education is impossible to attain. Fortunately, it is not only possible to get a college degree, but it can be affordable too! Of course, it’s a good idea to apply for as many scholarships as possible (look out for an upcoming blog on scholarships!), but schools also offer financial aid packages for eligible students. This means that the “list price” of any school may be a lot higher than what you will be expected to pay! So, before you dismiss the idea of going to college, apply for financial aid at schools you would like to attend. Once you get your financial aid packages from the schools you were accepted to, compare them and see which school is actually the cheapest. You may be surprised to find out that you only have to pay a fraction of the original cost!

Every school expects you to fill out different paperwork to apply for financial aid. But, there are a few things that most (if not all) schools require:

• FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid: You must fill out the FAFSA every year (including the year you are applying to colleges) to receive financial aid from your college or university. You must complete the free online application. Be mindful of the deadline! The earlier you complete the FAFSA and the other forms required from your school, the more money you will probably get. Click here to get started on the FAFSA and learn more about it:
• CSS/PROFILE: Some schools require that you fill out the CSS/PROFILE as well. Unfortunately, you do have to pay a fee to complete this application. You also must have a collegeboard.com account, which is not only free, but also required to register for the SAT. Click here for more information.

To learn more about financial aid, the different packages offered by public and private schools, and for FREE help filling out the FAFSA, met with a College Student Coach this Saturday!* Also, take advantage of the following events and resources:

• FAFSA Completion Workshops: The Office of High School Reform and PHEAA are offering FAFSA completion assistance in various local schools throughout the city. Click here for details.
• Free Tax and FAFSA Completion: The Campaign for Working Families is offering free tax and FAFSA completions. For more information, call 311 or visit phillyfreetaxes.org.

*College Student Coaches are available to assist you workshops every Saturday at the following Free Library locations: Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library, Parkway Central Library, Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library, Northeast Regional Library, and the Widener Branch. For more details, please email collegeprep@freelibrary.org or call 215-686-5372 on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Tell Us: Does the cost of a college or university deter you from applying? Why or why not?
 

Tags: College Prep

Through generous funding from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the Free Library of Philadelphia is offering free Financial Literacy workshops at the five branch locations participating in the College Prep Initiative.

Thanks to a partnership with Operation Hope—a non-profit, public benefit organization seeking to “bridge the gap” between minority communities and mainstream, private sector resources—the College Prep Initiative will educate college-bound teenagers on how to be smart with their money.

Presenters from local PNC Banks will talk about budgeting, bank accounts, and credit—below is a lsit of the remaining sessions! 

Program dates and times are different at each branch:

• Parkway Central Library: March 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library: March 6 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Widener Branch: March 13 and April 10, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Philadelphia Regional Library: March 13 and March 20 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Northeast Regional Library: March 6, March 13, and March 27, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  

There is no registration necessary for this Financial Literacy series! If you want to learn the benefits of bank accounts and credit don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!

If you would like more information, please email CollegePrep@freelibrary.org or call 215-686-5372 (Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM). Information can also be found on the calendar of events.

We welcome your comments!

Tell us: How has the economy changed your decision about where you would like to go to college?

Tags: College Prep

Through generous funding from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the Free Library of Philadelphia is offering free SAT & ACT prep workshops, financial literacy, and FAFSA workshops at five locations.

As part of the program, trained college student coaches are available on Saturdays to assist with SAT prep and other aspects of the college application process. No registration is necessary for meetings with college student coaches; they are informal drop-in sessions where you can discuss your school options, your dream career path, how your extracurricular activities can help, and what you are most excited about when it comes to going to college.

The College Prep Initiative (and the college student coaches) can be found at these five Free Library branch locations every Saturday through May:

Parkway Central Library from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Northeast Regional Library from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Philadelphia Regional Library from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Widener Branch from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The next SAT test date is March 13^th! Use the time wisely by meeting with our college student coaches.

If you would like information on how to contact a college student coach please email Collegeprep@freelibrary.org.

We welcome your comments!

Tell us: Where are Philly teens going to college?

Tags: College Prep