Table of Contents for HOW TO SUCCEED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND PREP FOR COLLEGE
CHAPTER I: TAKING YOUR OWN PATH
OPTIONS AND CONTROL
Are you only reading this book because an adult insisted?
What if you are reading this book even though your family wants you not to go away to college?
PASSION — THE NUMBER ONE THEME OF THIS BOOK
What do we mean by passion?
NOTE FOR PARENTS, ADVISORS AND MENTORS — “MIDWIFE” PASSION
STARTING AT THE BEGINNING — YOUR RESUME
Why do you need a resume now?
FORMATTING A RESUME
Which format should you follow — everyone has a different suggestion?
What about an example of a different format for a resume?
WHAT GOES ON A RESUME
Do you have to put everything on your resume?
What things can you leave off your resume?
What about putting your resume online?
Do you have to keep records of all your activities during high school?
Resume work sheet
CHAPTER II: PREPARING FOR INTERVIEWS OR MEETINGS
GENERAL PREPARATIONS FOR YOUR LIFE PATH
Does the Internet’s instant global access affect what you do?
Can you use any email address that you like?
Are there other suggestions for setting up professional email and phone communication?
Are there guidelines for getting back to people who offer to help?
What are effective telephone communication skills?
How long is appropriate before returning a professional phone call or email?
Are there tips for effective emails?
Is good grammar really necessary in professional communication?
Tip sheet
Is it important to use active verbs in essay writing?
Is how you sound when you speak really important?
Should you ignore possible learning issues you have and just accept that is how you are?
BEFORE A MEETING/INTERVIEW
What do you wear?
What else do you need to do to be ready for an interview or meeting?
DURING A MEETING/INTERVIEW
When does the meeting or interview actually begin?
How should you talk during a meeting or interview?
What about body language during a meeting or interview for an internship, summer job or college admission?
What about interviews conducted online via a chat system?
AFTER A MEETING/INTERVIEW
How important is saying thank you for the meeting or interview?
CHAPTER III: PLANNING AHEAD FOR HIGH SCHOOL
CHOOSING YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COURSES BEFORE SCHOOL BEGINS
What is the big deal about choosing high school courses for all four years before you even start high school?
How do you do this research?
What are you going to be when you grow up?
ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES IN HIGH SCHOOL
What is the big deal with AP courses?
THE FUN PART OF HIGH SCHOOL — EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
To what do you want to devote your extracurricular time?
What about extracurricular activities in connection with college applications?
How important is doing community service for your college application resume?
Then what is a teen to do?
What about the question of well-rounded or specialist?
Are there ways to stand out in following your passion?
What if you are not a leader?
What is the big deal about making choices?
Is there anything else you should take into account when planning for extracurricular activities?
What about high schools’ college counselors?
How do you keep track of all this information you are going to collect?
Anything else of which you should keep track?
And what about those adults to whom you have access? What about alumni interviews?
And what about those adults to whom you have access?
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNSHIPS
What can an internship do for you?
When should you do an internship or internships?
A FINAL WORD ABOUT WORDS
What is the big deal about learning new words?
EXERCISES
CHAPTER IV: APPLYING TO COLLEGE
Does what college you attend have an impact on further steps on your path in life?
What about strategizing for getting into the best school for you?
To which colleges should you apply?
What do you do next?
What about the range of grades and standardized test scores listed for the typical accepted student at a particular college?
How do you keep track of everything?
THOSE ALL IMPORTANT ESSAYS
What if it is the end of junior year or the beginning of senior year of high school – is it too late to improve your attractiveness to colleges?
What topics should you choose to write on for your essays?
What if an application asks for several essays?
How do you choose whether to do question A or B for your main essay when you are given two choices?
What makes a good essay?
Why is one well-developed idea worth more than 10 undeveloped ideas in an essay?
Do you really have to rewrite the essay once you have written it?
What about that almost universal essay question “why this college”?
Why should you put lots of time into writing good essays?
What about some final advice for writing college application essays?
EARLY ADMISSION OPTIONS
What is the deal with early admission options?
What is the advantage of turning in your application early?
What does deferred mean?
Besides knowing months before other reporting dates, what is the advantage of applying early?
What factors are important to consider in applying early?
Do all schools have early admission options?
How should you decide whether to apply early if your first-choice college has early admission options?
If you want to apply early — how can you decide before the beginning of November of your senior year which college is your number one choice?
OTHER COLLEGE APPLICATION FACTORS
What is the word legacy mean in connection to college applications?
What is the Common Application?
What about on-campus interviews?
How can you help ensure a positive report by an alum interviewer?
What kind of questions should you ask an interviewer?
What other things should you know about your college applications?
What application pitfalls should you try to avoid?
Are there other opportunities to showcase your talents?
HE SAID, SHE SAID — THE IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS
What recommendations?
EXTRA HOMEWORK
What else can you do to stand out in the application process?
How do you ask for recommendations?
CONNECTING TO OTHER PEOPLE FOR HELP
How do you follow a trail of connections?
SUMMER PROGRAMS VS. SUMMER PROGRAMS — SOME YOU PAY FOR
What are some examples of activities for the summer before 12th grade?
ADDITIONAL ASSISTS IN COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
Can sports be a possible assist into college? (Do not automatically skip this section.)
Where can you learn which schools have which college teams?
STANDARDIZED TESTS
A word about the SATs or the ACTs
GET ALL THE INFORMATION YOU CAN ON EACH COLLEGE
Should you attend the local area presentations given by colleges that interest you?
FINANCIAL AID
Where is the money and who qualifies for it?
EXERCISES
CHAPTER V: AFTER THE COLLEGE/PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ARE IN
Is there anything you can do now to enhance your candidacy?
Is there anything else you should be doing in preparation for college or program acceptance?
What about after you have gotten the results?
What might you do during a gap year?
What about transferring?
What if all else fails?
EXERCISES
BONUS: Tips for How to Use Dynamic Language on a College Application Essay