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https://www.atlantasigmas.com/alain-leroy-locke

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The Georgia Ready Summer Institute is a one-week, cohort-based residential program for high-achieving high school students throughout Georgia who are going into their senior year, with a focus on research and innovation for this year’s theme. During their experience, selected GRSI Scholars will begin exploring topics such as their desired research interests, connections between their interests and career pathways, as well as the impact research and innovation have upon entrepreneurial and commercialization endeavors across the state. Additional activities will provide the pre-collegiate scholars with a greater understanding of themselves, fostering an in-depth appreciation of their interests and how they align with individuals working in a variety of professions. Most importantly, selected GRSI Scholars will gain a glimpse of what life as a UGA scholar is like, living in a campus residence hall, eating at our award-winning dining facilities, in addition to touring the Athens campus and various facilities.

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The Georgia Ready Summer Institute is a one-week, cohort-based residential program for high-achieving high school students throughout Georgia who are going into their senior year, with a focus on research and innovation for this year's theme. During their experience, selected GRSI Scholars will begin exploring topics such as their desired research interests, connections between their interests and career pathways, as well as the impact research and innovation have upon entrepreneurial and commercialization endeavors across the state. Additional activities will provide the pre-collegiate scholars with a greater understanding of themselves, fostering an in-depth appreciation of their interests and how they align with individuals working in a variety of professions. Most importantly, selected GRSI Scholars will gain a glimpse of what life as a UGA scholar is like, living in a campus residence hall, eating at our award-winning dining facilities, in addition to touring the Athens campus and various facilities.

The deadline for completing the GRSI Application is Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. There is no cost of attendance for the GRSI Summer program.
Please complete all questions to the best of your ability. If you have any questions, please contact us at oace@uga.edu or call 706-583-8195.

We strongly recommend working on your essays in a program like Word or Google Docs so that your work is not lost if you have a technical issue or cannot complete this application in one sitting.

I have read the description of the Georgia Ready Summer Institute and understand that if selected, I will be expected to attend the entire Institute from July 7-12, and wish to proceed with this application.

I have read the description of the Georgia Ready Summer Institute and understand that if selected, I will be expected to attend the entire Institute from July 7-12, and wish to proceed with this application.

You may not complete this form without agreeing to the above conditions.

Choose one or more races that you consider yourself to be

Are you of Spanish, Hispanic, or Latine origin?

What is your gender?

Are you a first-generation college student (neither of your parents or legal guardians graduated from a four-year college or university)?

School Name Search (Name, City, CEEB): Please start typing your school's name and click on the result to populate the address information*
If you are home schooled, enter HS4444, or if your school is not listed, please enter 00000 in the field below. Please do not abbreviate.

High School Graduate Year

Please upload your current high school transcript

Describe what your current research interest(s) are:

Do you have any research experience
We strongly recommend working on your essays in a program like Word or Google Docs so that your work is not lost if you have a technical issue or cannot complete this application in one sitting.
Please describe your interest in the Institute, what you hope to get out of it, and how participation will impact your educational and career aspirations (500 words or less)

If you had the power to fix, build, or reinvent one thing within your community (your high school, neighborhood, or city), what would you improve and why? Describe your idea in detail and explain what inspired it.

Additionally, if your project or idea has already been accomplished in your community, tell us about it and the role you played in making it happen.

Feel free to be thoughtful, bold, or creative in your response. (300 words or less)

Please record or upload a video telling us why you feel you would make a great candidate for the Georgia Ready Summer Institute 2026 cohort! Be sure to share aspects of yourself that may not be reflected elsewhere in your application, including extracurricular activities, leadership roles, or service experiences outside the classroom that best demonstrate your strengths as a program participant.
Instructions:

1. Go to ThankView and record your video directly on your desktop or mobile device.

2. Select "Record Video" to begin the process.

3. Enable your webcam and click "Start Recording".

4. When finished, click "Stop Recording" and wait for the video to upload to the server.

Have you uploaded your video telling us why you feel you would make a great candidate for the Georgia Ready Summer Institute 2026 cohort?

Have you uploaded your video telling us why you feel you would make a great candidate for the Georgia Ready Summer Institute 2026 cohort?

Please remember your application will not be considered complete until your video is uploaded to ThankView. Please follow the instructions above.

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Georgia Ready Summer Institute Application

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https://omega-kaa.com/index.cfm?e=inner2&itemcategory=97127

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https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc0dwPehVL43QMWlaOd4yUA7z5wV5r-QgJREFZNuFdyTraV8w/viewform?usp=send_form

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The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a team of volunteers who:

Assist in emergency response

Build community resilience

Strengthen public health efforts

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Medical Reserve Corps | DeKalb Public Health

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The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a team of volunteers who: Assist in emergency response Build community resilience Strengthen public health efforts MRC members: Support public health staff and first responders in emergencies Help during community events, like vaccination clinics Duties can include: Setting up sites Greeting, registering and directing the public at community […]

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Hand-Skills For Health Professionals

SPCC Atlanta AHEC is hosting an educational event to introduce students to exciting careers in the public health field. The event will include interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities with medical instruments, and presentations.

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Please click the link to complete this form.

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R.I.S.E. Up Program at Emory University – June 2026 https://wkf.ms/4jgMxQM

Girls Clubhouse Program – Launching June 2026 https://wkf.ms/42zpVE9

DeKalb County Youth Commission – August 2026 https://wkf.ms/4cN7NeH

Youth Assistance Program: https://wkf.ms/4jqK4mR

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The TMCF Seeking, Observing and Achieving Results (SOAR) HBCU Scholars Program at FVSU is a free, one-week residential summer experience for high-achieving high school students. This program introduces students to the traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) while equipping them with essential skills for academic and career success.

To apply, eligible students must submit the following information with the online application:

High school academic transcript (official or unofficial)

Submit a letter of recommendation from an academic teacher, administrator, advisor, coach, or counselor at your school. (This letter must be uploaded as a PDF.)

Write a personal statement (250–300 words) responding to the prompt: What are your short-term and long-term goals after high school? How can your participation in the TMCF SOAR Program assist you in achieving these goals? In your response, reflect on how your experiences have shaped your goals and motivation. (This statement must be uploaded as a Word Document, Google Doc, or PDF.)

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Third Wave Digital - www.thirdwavedigital.com

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TMCF HBCU Scholars Program at Fort Valley State University - Fort Valley State University

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Located in the heart of Georgia, FVSU combines the personal attention and family feel of a small, private college with the resources and research found at large public universities.

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Atlanta GLOW’s Young Women's Leadership (5/29)

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Atlanta GLOW’s Young Women's Leadership (5/29)

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LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Application Deadline: May 29, 2026

Atlanta GLOW’s Young Women's Leadership Program is for young women and girls, ages 16-25, who want to learn more about themselves while building their confidence and competency around concepts such as civic responsibility, leadership development and social change. Promoting sisterhood, community and an interest in social impact, our workshops include topics such as democracy and voting rights, community action, public speaking, policy making, and grassroots organizing with program instruction that incorporates interactive lessons with the entire class as well as smaller mentor-led group activities. By the end of the program, participants are charged with creating a project, whether through art, literature or technology, teaching their peers about a cause or social issue that matters to them.

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Atlanta GLOW Young Women and Girls Summer Leadership Program

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VOX Media Café (VMC) will offer 2 in-person two-week sessions of skill-building and media-making. VMC is perfect for metro-Atlanta teens 13-19 interested in building and elevating skill sets around:

Journalism – Interviewing – Podcasting – Videography – Photography – Public Speaking

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VOXMedia Cafe VMC 2026 – Sessions 1 (June 1-June 12) & 2 (June 15-June 26)* VOX Media Café (VMC) will offer 2 in-person two-week sessions of skill-building and media-making. VMC is perfect for metro-Atlanta teens 13-19 interested in building and elevating skill sets around: Journalism – Interviewing – Podcasting – Videography – Photography – Public Speaking Teen participants in these […]

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During the program, you’ll explore the following questions:
​

1. Where did AI come from and why is it trending now?
2. What are the exciting possibilities and major concerns for AI technology?
3. How are generative and predictive AI models developed?
4. What concepts from data science and machine learning explain how AI works?
5. How can you use AI tools effectively and ethically?
6. What skills will set you up for success in the age of AI?

Final Project:

The program will culminate in final group project where you'll get to put your knowledge and skills to the test by pitching an AI-powered tool to mock clients. The top-rated projects will be selected to present at Demo Day in front of a panel of judges.

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Welcome to America On Tech’s Summer 2026 TECH360 Application! To start, please select your city:

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www.teensofcolorabroad.org

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The camp is a three-week summer program designed to expose talented high-school

students from the Atlanta area to the field of law. During the first two weeks of classroom

sessions, students will be provided instruction on the basics of critical thinking and exposure to

leading lawyers and judges in various areas of law. Students will also be given an opportunity

to tour various legal institutions such as the state and superior courts and the Georgia Supreme

Court and Georgia Court of Appeals.

During the internship phase, the third and final week of the program, students will be

given an opportunity to work in legal environments throughout metro-Atlanta with various

firms, judicial entities, and corporations.

Selected candidates have no fees or expenses associated with the Law Camp. However,

parent(s)/guardian(s) are responsible for transporting students to and from the law camp and

internships each day. Commuting expenses will not be reimbursed.

Georgia State University’s College of Law partners with the Gate City Bar Association

and provide support to this unique summer opportunity.STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

Students interested in pursuing law as a career and committed to actively participating in the

camp’s three-week program are encouraged to apply. Further eligibility requirements:

• Students must be rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grade students for the 2025-2026 school year.

• Enrolled in high school in the state of Georgia.

• If you have participated in the Law Camp in the past, you are not eligible to participate

again.

• If accepted into the Law Camp summer program, students must fully and exclusively

commit to attend all events and learning sessions of the Law Camp held between:

June 9 – June 27

• Foregoing any part of the program to attend another program or attempting to split time

between the Law Camp and another program is not permitted and will result in the

disqualification of the student and removal from the Law Camp. As there are more

applicants than slots available, those ultimately selected must fully commit to the

program as tremendous resources are being invested in the students selected.

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Law Camp - 2025 Law Camp Application.pdf

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WEN Greater Atlanta Fueling the Future Scholarship (5/1)

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WEN Greater Atlanta Fueling the Future Scholarship (5/1)

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The Fueling the Future award is a one-time $2,500 scholarship to young women in the Greater Atlanta Region seeking degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and ultimately joining the energy industry.  Eligibility for the WEN FTF Scholarship requires: 1) you are a Female High School Senior, 2) Graduating in Spring 2026, 3) Currently hold a cumulative GPA above 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), 4) Are a resident of one of the Greater Atlanta counties.

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WEN Greater Atlanta Fueling the Future Scholarship Application

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WEN Greater Atlanta Fueling the Future Scholarship Application

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Participants will have the opportunity to build multimedia and journalism skills from the safety of our downtown office. Over the course of each session: Teens will work together in small teams to create a comprehensive multimedia product, often including writing, video, audio, and photography components, to be published on VOX ATL’s website – http://www.voxatl.org. On the final day of each session, teens will have the opportunity to present their work to the community, including family members and volunteers.

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High School Students - Summer Internships

High school graduates are eligible to apply for an eight-week summer internship to experience what it's like to work at Georgia Power as an Apprentice Lineworker. Starting pay is $15.00 per hour with the opportunity for future employment opportunities if the candidate is successful and positions are available. As an intern, you will develop a general knowledge of power lines construction standards, work with crews daily doing basic work activities, and use basic hand tools.

We are now accepting applications for 2024 summer interns. Apply here.

View job description for additional details.
Qualifications:

High School diploma or equivalent required

Individuals also must always demonstrate the ability and desire to work safely and display ethical behavior

Ability to lift 50 lbs. or more

Requirements:

Must be at least 18 years of age or turning 18 by September 1, 2024

Possess a valid driver's license.

Available to work Monday - Friday 7:00AM - 3:00 PM

Practice test: Logon to the EEI Test Prep website with the username and password below to access study materials for the CAST test.
Username: southern Password: testing
For skilled trades positions, internships offer flexibility for high-school students to develop practical skills and apply on-the-job experience. Talk with your CTAE or College & Career Academy coordinator for more information on work-based learning opportunities. Successful interns can earn scholarships to complete required training at a TCSG campus and earn their Electrical Lineworker Apprentice Certification (ELAC). Fulltime employment opportunities may be available for students earning the ELAC.
Request more information
College Students

For positions requiring a four-year degree in electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, nuclear, industrial and computer engineering fields, Georgia Power has on-campus, college recruiters who can share information on co-ops and internships. These co-ops and internships are offered in the spring, summer and fall.

For more information, click here.

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High school graduates are eligible to apply for an eight-week summer internship to experience what it's like to work at Georgia Power as an Apprentice Lineworker. Starting pay is $15.00 per hour with the opportunity for future employment opportunities if the candidate is successful and positions are available.

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forms.gle/T5EZnWspBiYzBnyq5

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Looking for a meaningful way to spend your summer? Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center is accepting applications for the VolunTeen Summer Program 2026. High school students ages 15 to 18 can gain real experience in a hospital setting while supporting patients, families and care teams across clinical and non-clinical areas. The program runs June 1 through July 24, 2026, and applications close March 9. Apply here: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/526814371 or email wmcg_wellstarvolunteers@wellstar.org with questions.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/learning/local-lens-a-photo-essay-contest-for-exploring-the-place-where-you-live.html

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https://www.instagram.com/student.success.coach?igsh=MWxlZDRybzdycjhveA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

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https://forms.gle/Dd58eskcU8VS53Qs6

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The HOPE Career Grant is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them. These industries have been identified as strategically important to the state’s economic growt

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HOPE Career Grant | Georgia Student Finance Commission

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The HOPE Career Grant is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them.

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Announcing the 2025–2026 Common App essay prompts

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The Common App essay prompts offer diverse topics, inviting students to share personal stories, challenges, growth, and meaningful experiences. Discover what has changed and remained the same for the 25–26 prompts.

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A Day as an Appearance Technician | Southwest Airlines

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A Day as an Appearance Technician | Southwest Airlines

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A Day as an Appearance Technician | Southwest Airlines

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First, what is the college essay (i.e., the personal statement)?
This is your main essay. Your application centerpiece. The part of your application you're likely to spend the most time on. But, of course, I'd say that-I'm the College Essay Guy.

The personal statement is likely to be 500-650 words long (so about a page) and many of the colleges you're applying to will require it.

What's its purpose? Jennifer Blask, Executive Director for International Admissions at the University of Rochester, puts it beautifully: "So much of the college application is a recounting of things past-past grades, old classes, activities the student has participated in over several years. The essay is a chance for the student to share who they are now and what they will bring to our campus communities."

Basically, college admission officers are looking for three takeaways in your college essay:

1. Who is this person?

2. Will this person contribute something of value to our campus?

3. Can this person write?

Let's do this.

Would you Rather watch instead?

At the start of the essay process, I ask students two questions:

1. Have you faced significant challenges in your life?

2. Do you want to write about them?

Because here's an important qualifier:

I mention this now because, in my experience, many students are under the impression that they have to write about challenges-that it's either expected, or that it's somehow better to do so.

Neither is true.

I've seen many, many incredible essays-ones that got students into every school you're hoping to get into-that had no central challenge.

If your answer is "Maybe ... ?" because you're not sure what qualifies as a challenge, it's useful to think of challenges as being on a spectrum. On the weak end of the spectrum would be things like getting a bad grade or not making X sports team. On the strong end of the spectrum would be things like escaping war. Being extremely shy but being responsible for translating for your family might be around a 3 or 4 out of 10.

It's possible to use Narrative Structure to write about a challenge anywhere on the spectrum, but it's much, much harder to write an outstanding essay about a weaker challenge.

Sometimes students pick the hardest challenge they've been through and try to make it sound worse than it actually was. Beware of pushing yourself to write about a challenge merely because you think these types of essays are inherently "better." Focusing myopically on one experience can sideline other brilliant and beautiful elements of your character.

If you're still uncertain, don't worry. I'll help you decide what to focus on. But, for the sake of this blog post, answer those first two questions with a gut-level response.

In the sections that follow, I'll introduce you to two structures: Narrative Structure, which works well for describing challenges, and Montage Structure, which works well for essays that aren't about challenges.

Heads-up: Some students who have faced challenges find after reading that they prefer Montage Structure to Narrative Structure. Or vice versa. If you're uncertain which approach is best for you, I generally recommend experimenting with montage first; you can always go back and play with narrative.

A montage is, simply put, a series of moments or story events connected by a common thematic thread.

Well-known examples from movies include "training" montages, like those from Mulan, Rocky, or Footloose, or the "falling in love" montage from most romantic comedies. Or remember the opening to the Pixar movie Up? In just a few minutes, we learn the entire history of Carl and Ellie's relationship. One purpose is to communicate a lot of information fast. Another is to allow you to share a lot of different kinds of information, as the example essay below shows.
Narrative Structure vs. Montage Structure explained in two sentences:
In Narrative Structure, story events connect chronologically.

In Montage Structure, story events connect thematically.

Here's a metaphor:

Imagine that each different part of you is a bead and that a select few will show up in your essay. They're not the kind of beads you'd find on a store-bought bracelet; they're more like the hand-painted beads on a bracelet your little brother made for you.

The theme of your essay is the thread that connects your beads.

You can find a thread in many, many different ways. One way we've seen students find great montage threads is by using the 5 Things Exercise. I'll get detailed on this a little bit later, but essentially, are there 5 thematically connected things that thread together different experiences/moments/events in your life? For example, are there 5 T-shirts you collected, or 5 homes or identities, or 5 entries in your Happiness Spreadsheet.

And to clarify, your essay may end up using only 4 of the 5 things. Or maybe 8. But 5 is a nice number to aim for initially.

Note the huge range of possible essay threads. To illustrate, here are some different "thread" examples that have worked well:

Sports have had a powerful influence on me, from my understanding of history, to numbers, to my relationships, extracurricular activities, and even my career choice.

I lived with 5 different families as an exchange student, and each one taught me something valuable that I'll carry with me to college.

Crassulaceae plants, which can reproduce via stem or leaf fragments, are a great analogy for not only how I make art, but how I choose to live each day.

Binary star systems are a metaphor for my relationship with my parents.

I am "trans" in so many ways ... let me describe a few.

To understand who I am, you must understand how I cook.

Pranks have shaped my life in a variety of ways.

The number 12 has influenced so much in my life, from my relationship to sports, to how I write, to my self-esteem.

All of these threads stemmed from the brainstorming exercises in this post.

We'll look at an example essay in a minute, but before we do, a word (well, a bunch of words) on how to build a stronger montage (and the basic concept here also applies to building stronger narratives).
To frame how to think about possible topics ...
Imagine you're interviewing for a position as a fashion designer, and your interviewer asks you what qualities make you right for this position. Oh, and heads-up: That imaginary interviewer has already interviewed a hundred people today, so you'd best not roll up with, "because I've always loved clothes" or "because fashion helps me express my creativity." Why shouldn't you say those things? Because that's what everyone says.

Many students are the same in their personal statements-they name cliché qualities/skills/values and don't push their reflections much further.

Why is this a bad idea?

Let me frame it this way:

Examples:

Boring personal statement: I want to be a doctor (common topic) because I'm empathetic and I love helping people (common connections) and I really want to make the world a better place (common language).

Better personal statement: I want to run a tech-startup (more uncommon topic) because I value humor, "leading from the battlefield," and stuff that makes me cry (uncommon connections for an essay on this topic), and because my journey to this place took me from being a scrawny 12-year-old kid to a scrawny 12-year-old man (uncommon language).

Important: I'm not saying you should pick a weird topic/thread just so it'll help you stand out more on your essay. Be honest. But consider this: The more common your topic is ... the more un common your connections need to be if you want to stand out.

What do I mean?

For example, tons of students write doctor/lawyer/engineer essays; if you want to stand out, you need to say a few things that others don't tend to say.

How do you figure out what to say? By making uncommon connections.

They're the key to a stand-out essay.

The following two-part exercise will help you do this.
2-minute exercise: Start with the cliché version of your essay.
What would the cliché version of your essay focus on?

If you're writing a "Why I want to be an engineer" essay, for example, what 3-5 common "engineering" values might other students have mentioned in connection with engineering? Use the Values Exercise for ideas.

Collaboration? Efficiency? Hands-on work? Probably yes to all three.

Once you've spent 2 minutes thinking up some common/cliché values, move onto the next step.
8-Minute Exercise: Brainstorm uncommon connections.
For example, if your thread is "food" (which can lead to great essays, but is also a really common topic), push yourself beyond the common value of "health" and strive for unexpected values. How has cooking taught you about "accountability," for example, or "social change"? Why do this? We've already read the essay on how cooking helped the author become more aware of their health. An essay on how cooking allowed the author to become more accountable or socially aware would be less common.

In a minute, we'll look at the "Laptop Stickers" essay. One thing that author discusses is activism. A typical "activist" essay might discuss public speaking or how the author learned to find their voice. A stand-out essay would go further, demonstrating, say, how a sense of humor supports activism. Perhaps it would describe a childhood community that prioritized culture-creation over culture-consumption, reflecting on how these experiences shaped the author's political views.

And before you beg me for an "uncommon values" resource, I implore you to use your brilliant brain to dream up these connections. Plus, you aren't looking for uncommon values in general; you're looking for values uncommonly associated with your topic/thread.

Don't get me wrong ... I'm not saying you shouldn't list any common values, since some common values may be an important part of your story! In fact, the great essay examples throughout this book sometimes make use of common connections. I'm simply encouraging you to go beyond the obvious.

Also note that a somewhat-common lesson (e.g., "I found my voice") can still appear in a stand-out essay. But if you choose this path, you'll likely need to use either an uncommon structure or next-level craft to create a stand-out essay.
Where can you find ideas for uncommon qualities/skills/values?
Here are four places:

1. The Values Exercise

This is basically a huge list of qualities/skills/values that could serve you in a future career.

2. O*Net Online

Go to www.onetonline.org and use the "occupation quick search" feature to search for your career. Once you do, a huge list will appear containing knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for your career. This is one of my favorite resources for this exercise.

3. School websites

Go to a college's website and click on a major or group of majors that interest you. Sometimes they'll briefly summarize a major in terms of what skills it'll impart or what jobs it might lead to. Students are often surprised to discover how broadly major-related skills can apply.

4. Real humans

Ask 3 people in this profession what unexpected qualities, values, or skills prepared them for their careers. Please don't simply use their answers as your own; allow their replies to inspire your brainstorming process.

Once you've got a list of, say, 7-10 qualities, move on to the next step.

Common personal statement topics include extracurricular activities (sports or musical instruments), service trips to foreign countries (aka the "mission trip" essay where the author realizes their privilege), sports injuries, family illnesses, deaths, divorce, the "meta" essay (e.g., "As I sit down to write my college essays, I think about..."), or someone who inspired you (common mistake: This usually ends up being more about them than you).

While I won't say you should never write about these topics, if you do decide to write about one of these topics, the degree of difficulty goes way up. What do I mean? Essentially, you have to be one of the best "soccer" essays or "mission trip" essays among the hundreds the admission officer has likely read (and depending on the school, maybe the hundreds they've read this year). So it makes it much more difficult to stand out.

How do you stand out? A cliché is all in how you tell the story. So, if you do choose a common topic, work to make uncommon connections (i.e., offer unexpected narrative turns or connections to values), provide uncommon insights (i.e., say stuff we don't expect you to say) or uncommon language (i.e., phrase things in a way we haven't heard before).

Or explore a different topic. You are infinitely complex and imaginative.
Sample montage essay:

My laptop is like a passport. It is plastered with stickers all over the outside, inside, and bottom. Each sticker is a stamp, representing a place I've been, a passion I've pursued, or community I've belonged to. These stickers make for an untraditional first impression at a meeting or presentation, but it's one I'm proud of. Let me take you on a quick tour:

" We <3 Design," bottom left corner. Art has been a constant for me for as long as I can remember. Today my primary engagement with art is through design. I've spent entire weekends designing websites and social media graphics for my companies. Design means more to me than just branding and marketing; it gives me the opportunity to experiment with texture, perspective, and contrast, helping me refine my professional style.

" Common Threads," bottom right corner. A rectangular black and red sticker displaying the theme of the 2017 TEDxYouth@Austin event. For years I've been interested in the street artists and musicians in downtown Austin who are so unapologetically themselves. As a result, I've become more open-minded and appreciative of unconventional lifestyles. TED gives me the opportunity to help other youth understand new perspectives, by exposing them to the diversity of Austin where culture is created, not just consumed.

Poop emoji, middle right. My 13-year-old brother often sends his messages with the poop emoji 'echo effect,' so whenever I open a new message from him, hundreds of poops elegantly cascade across my screen. He brings out my goofy side, but also helps me think rationally when I am overwhelmed. We don't have the typical "I hate you, don't talk to me" siblinghood (although occasionally it would be nice to get away from him); we're each other's best friends. Or at least he's mine.

" Lol ur not Harry Styles," upper left corner. Bought in seventh grade and transferred from my old laptop, this sticker is torn but persevering with layers of tape. Despite conveying my fangirl-y infatuation with Harry Styles' boyband, One Direction, for me Styles embodies an artist-activist who uses his privilege for the betterment of society. As a $42K donor to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, a hair donor to the Little Princess Trust, and promoter of LGBTQ+ equality, he has motivated me to be a more public activist instead of internalizing my beliefs.

" Catapult," middle right. This is the logo of a startup incubator where I launched my first company, Threading Twine. I learned that business can provide others access to fundamental human needs, such as economic empowerment of minorities and education. In my career, I hope to be a corporate advocate for the empowerment of women, creating large-scale impact and deconstructing institutional boundaries that obstruct women from working in high-level positions. Working as a women's rights activist will allow me to engage in creating lasting movements for equality, rather than contributing to a cycle that elevates the stances of wealthy individuals.

" Thank God it's Monday," sneakily nestled in the upper right corner. Although I attempt to love all my stickers equally (haha), this is one of my favorites. I always want my association with work to be positive.

And there are many others, including the horizontal, yellow stripes of the Human Rights Campaign; " The Team," a sticker from the Model G20 Economics Summit where I collaborated with youth from around the globe; and stickers from " Kode with Klossy," a community of girls working to promote women's involvement in underrepresented fields.

When my computer dies (hopefully not for another few years), it will be like my passport expiring. It'll be difficult leaving these moments and memories behind, but I probably won't want these stickers in my 20s anyways (except Harry Styles, that's never leaving). My next set of stickers will reveal my next set of aspirations. They hold the key to future paths I will navigate, knowledge I will gain, and connections I will make.

- - -

Cool, huh? And see what I mean about how you can write a strong personal statement without focusing on challenges you've faced?

Going back to that "thread and beads" metaphor with the "My Laptop Sticker" essay:

The "beads" are the different experiences that link to the values of creativity, open-mindedness, humor, courage, and entrepreneurialism.

The "thread" (i.e., the theme that ties everything together) is her laptop stickers. Each one represents a quality of the author's personality. Actually, there's a second thematic thread: Those qualities will also serve her in her women's rights activism. Bonus!

The outline that got her there
Here's the outline for the "My Laptop Stickers" essay. Notice how each bullet point discusses a value or values, connected to different experiences via her thread, and sets up the insights she could explore. (Insight, though, is the toughest part of the writing process, and will probably take the most revision, so it's fine if you don't have great insights in an outline or first draft. But you'll want to get to them by your final draft.)

She found this thread essentially by using The Five Things Exercise in conjunction with the other brainstorming exercises.

Thread-Laptop Stickers

Okay, so if you're on board so far, here's what you need:

1. Some stuff to write about (ideally 4-10 things) that will make up the "beads" of your essay, and

2. Something to connect all the different "beads" (like a connective theme or thread)

First, let's talk about ...
How to generate lots of 'stuff' to write about (aka the beads for your bracelet)
Complete all the brainstorming exercises.

Already did that? Great! Move on!

Didn't do that? Go back, complete the exercises, and then ...
Case study: How to find a theme for your personal statement (aka the thread that connects the beads of your bracelet)
Let's look at an example of how I helped one student find her essay thread, then I'll offer you some exercises to help you find your own.

First, take a look at this student's Essence Objects and 21 Details:
My Essence Objects

1. Bojangle's Tailgate Special/Iced Tea

2. Light blue fuzzy blanket

3. A box containing my baby tooth

4. Gold bracelet from my grandfather

5. Orange, worn Nike Free Run Sneakers

6. Duke basketball game ticket

7. Palestine flag rubber wristband/ISEF Lanyard

8. Friendship bracelet

9. A pair of headphones

10. Yin-yang symbol

11. Worn, green Governor's School East lanyard

My 21 Details

1. I've been known to have terrible spatial awareness despite being a dancer. Just last week, my shoelace got caught in an escalator and I tripped about 20 people.

2. Zumba and kickboxing are my favorite forms of exercise and I'm hopefully going to become certified to teach Zumba soon.

3. I have misophonia--sometimes I even have to eat dinner in a different room from my family.

4. My go-to drinks are Hi-C and Sweet Tea.

5. I became a pescatarian this year to avoid fried chicken, and I can honestly get a life's worth of meat out of cod, salmon, tilapia, shrimp, you name it.

6. I collect funky socks--at this point, I have socks with tacos, snowmen, Santa, and even animals wearing glasses.

7. I've gotten different Myers-Briggs personality types every time I took the test. The most recent ones are ENFJ and ENFP.

8. I have no immediate relatives in America besides my mom, dad, and sister.

9. I am a diehard Duke basketball fan, and I can identify all of the Duke basketball fans at my high school on one hand.

10. I love discussing psychology, but sometimes I psychoanalyze.

11. Singing while driving is honestly one of my favorite pastimes.

12. My alarm for school every morning is at 5:42 am.

13. I hope to complete a half and full marathon within the next four years, despite not having run a 5k yet.

14. I realized the tooth fairy wasn't real after I lost my second tooth, but I pretended that I still believed in it until I was in 5th grade for the tooth fairy's "gifts".

15. I could eat fruits for every single meal.

16. I don't do well with confrontation.

17. Airports are hands-down my favorite place to be, but I hate airplanes.

18. If I'm not busy or working, you can usually find me in my hammock in the backyard.

19. I find that I form the deepest connections with people after 12am.

20. Sometimes, I like TV spoilers.

How this author found her thematic thread
When I met with this student for the first time, I began asking questions about her objects and details: "What's up with the Bojangle's Iced Tea? What's meaningful to you about the Governor's School East lanyard? Tell me about your relationship to dance ..."

We were thread-finding ... searching for an invisible connective [something] that would allow her to talk about different parts of her life.

Heads-up: Some people are really good at this-counselors are often great at this-while some folks have a more difficult time. Good news: When you practice the skill of thread-finding, you can become better at it rather quickly.

You should also know that sometimes it takes minutes to find a thread and sometimes it can take weeks. With this student, it took less than an hour.

I noticed in our conversation that she kept coming back to things that made her feel comfortable. She also repeated the word "home" several times. When I pointed this out, she asked me, "Do you think I could use 'home' as a thread for my essay?"

"I think you could," I said.

Read her essay below, then I'll share more about how you can find your own thematic thread.

As I enter the double doors, the smell of freshly rolled biscuits hits me almost instantly. I trace the fan blades as they swing above me, emitting a low, repetitive hum resembling a faint melody. After bringing our usual order, the "Tailgate Special," to the table, my father begins discussing the recent performance of Apple stock with my mother, myself, and my older eleven year old sister. Bojangle's, a Southern establishment well known for its fried chicken and reliable fast food, is my family's Friday night restaurant, often accompanied by trips to Eva Perry, the nearby library. With one hand on my breaded chicken and the other on Nancy Drew: Mystery of Crocodile Island, I can barely sit still as the thriller unfolds. They're imprisoned! Reptiles! Not the enemy's boat! As I delve into the narrative with a sip of sweet tea, I feel at home.

"Five, six, seven, eight!" As I shout the counts, nineteen dancers grab and begin to spin the tassels attached to their swords while walking heel-to-toe to the next formation of the classical Chinese sword dance. A glance at my notebook reveals a collection of worn pages covered with meticulously planned formations, counts, and movements. Through sharing videos of my performances with my relatives or discovering and choreographing the nuances of certain regional dances and their reflection on the region's distinct culture, I deepen my relationship with my parents, heritage, and community. When I step on stage, the hours I've spent choreographing, creating poses, teaching, and polishing are all worthwhile, and the stage becomes my home.

Set temperature. Calibrate. Integrate. Analyze. Set temperature. Calibrate. Integrate. Analyze. This pulse mimics the beating of my heart, a subtle rhythm that persists each day I come into the lab. Whether I am working under the fume hood with platinum nanoparticles, manipulating raw integration data, or spraying a thin platinum film over pieces of copper, it is in Lab 304 in Hudson Hall that I first feel the distinct sensation, and I'm home. After spending several weeks attempting to synthesize platinum nanoparticles with a diameter between 10 and 16 nm, I finally achieve nanoparticles with a diameter of 14.6 nm after carefully monitoring the sulfuric acid bath. That unmistakable tingling sensation dances up my arm as I scribble into my notebook: I am overcome with a feeling of unbridled joy.

Styled in a t-shirt, shorts, and a worn, dark green lanyard, I sprint across the quad from the elective 'Speaking Arabic through the Rassias Method' to 'Knitting Nirvana'. This afternoon is just one of many at Governor's School East, where I have been transformed from a high school student into a philosopher, a thinker, and an avid learner. While I attend GS at Meredith College for Natural Science, the lessons learned and experiences gained extend far beyond physics concepts, serial dilutions, and toxicity. I learn to trust myself to have difficult yet necessary conversations about the political and economic climate. Governor's School breeds a culture of inclusivity and multidimensionality, and I am transformed from "girl who is hardworking" or "science girl" to someone who indulges in the sciences, debates about psychology and the economy, and loves to swing and salsa dance. As I form a slip knot and cast on, I'm at home.

My home is a dynamic and eclectic entity. Although I've lived in the same house in Cary, North Carolina for 10 years, I have found and carved homes and communities that are filled with and enriched by tradition, artists, researchers, and intellectuals. While I may not always live within a 5 mile radius of a Bojangle's or in close proximity to Lab 304, learning to become a more perceptive daughter and sister, to share the beauty of my heritage, and to take risks and redefine scientific and personal expectations will continue to impact my sense of home.

- - -
Rad essay, huh?

But here's the question I get most often about this technique: How do I find my thematic thread?

1. The "Bead-Making" Exercise (5-8 min.)
In the example above, we started with the beads, and then we searched for a thread. This exercise asks you to start with the thread of something you know well and then create the beads. Here's how it works:

Step 1: On a blank sheet of paper, make a list of five or six things you know a lot about.

For example, I know a lot about ...

If you can only think of 3 or 4, that's okay.

Step 2: Pick one of the things you wrote down, flip your paper over, and write it at the top of your paper, like this:

This is your thread, or a potential thread.

Step 3: Underneath what you wrote down, name 5-6 values you could connect to this. These will serve as the beads of your essay. You can even draw a thread connecting your beads, if you want, like this:

Step 4: For each value, write down a specific example, memory, image, or essence object that connects to that value. Example:

My thread: Games

My beads: Connection, creativity, fun/laughter, family, competition, knowledge

Here are my examples/memories/images/essence objects:

Connection: One memory I have is playing "I love" in a circle at camp with 20 friends and strangers. I still marvel at how quickly it helped us bond.

Creativity: After I understand how a game works, I like to try to improve it by tweaking the rules. Two examples: 1) I remember when I was young trying to find the right amount of money for the Free Parking space in Monopoly, and 2) recently, I learned the game Guesstimation is so much better if you add wagers. I see my 4-year-old daughter tweaks games too, which drives my wife crazy, as she likes to play by the rules of the game.

Fun/laughter: As I've aged, so much of my life has become planned/programmed, but I can still enjoy losing track of time with board games. Two weeks ago, for example, I laughed so hard I cried while playing Drawful with Lisa, Andy, and Sage.

Family: We played games like Charades and Jeopardy when I was young. (My dad was the Game Master who would come up with the categories. As I grew older, I took over the role of Game Master.)

Competition: People don't know this about me because I seem so chill, but I am incredibly competitive. Things I rarely lose at: ping pong, Tetris, foosball, and corn hole. I've gotten much better over the years at hiding my competitive side, but it's still there.

Knowledge: Can't really think of much on this one-maybe something related to Jeopardy?

This is an actual brainstorm I did using this exercise.

And, as I write these things down, I notice a theme of youth/old age emerging. Games have changed for me as I've gotten older. Note that I couldn't come up with something for the last one, "knowledge," which is fine.

The point is this: If you know a thing well, odds are good you'll be able to make a lot of connections to your values. And if you can find specific examples for each value, that can make for interesting paragraphs in your personal statement.

If you're willing to spend a few more minutes, ask "so what?" of each example to see if a specific insight emerges.

And, in case you want a formula for what I'm describing, here you go:

Once you've written down the values and at least one example (e.g., a memory, image, essence object) for each bead, see if you have enough content for an essay.

Still haven't found your theme? Here are ...

More ways to find a thematic thread for your personal statement
2. The "Five Things" Exercise
(Special thanks to my colleague, Dori Middlebrook, for this one.)

I mentioned this when we first started talking about Montage Structure. Similar to the "bead-making" exercise above, you identify the thread first and then develop the beads.

Step 1: Write down 5 similar things that are meaningful to you in different ways.

Examples: Five Pairs of Shoes I've Worn, Five Houses I've Lived In, Five Photographs in My Room, Five Ways Cooking Has Influenced Me, etc.

Step 2: Begin by simply naming the 5 different items.

Example: High-top tennis shoes, flip-flops, heels, cleats, bunny slippers

Step 3: Add physical details so we can visualize each one.

Step 4: Add more details. Maybe tell a story for each.

Step 5: Expand on each description further and start to connect the ideas to develop them into an essay draft.
3. Thread-finding with a partner
Grab someone who knows you well (e.g., a counselor, friend, family member). Share all your brainstorming content with them and ask them to mirror back to you what they're seeing. It can be helpful if they use reflective language and ask lots of questions. An example of a reflective observation is: "I'm hearing that 'building' has been pretty important in your life ... is that right?" You're hunting together for a thematic thread-something that might connect different parts of your life and self.
4. Thread-finding with photographs
Pick 10 of your favorite photos or social media posts and write a short paragraph on each one. Why'd you pick these photos? What do they say about you? Then ask yourself, "What are some things these photos have in common?" Bonus points: Can you find one thing that connects all of them?
5. Reading lots of montage example essays that work
You'll find some here, here, and here. While you may be tempted to steal those thematic threads, don't. Try finding your own. Have the courage to be original. You can do it.

Q: How do I work in extracurricular activities in a tasteful way (so it doesn't seem like I'm bragging)?
A: Some counselors caution, with good reason, against naming extracurricular activities/experiences in your personal statement. (It can feel redundant with your Activities List.) You actually can mention them, just make sure you do so in context of your essay's theme. Take another look at the eighth paragraph of the "My Laptop Stickers" essay above, for example:

And there are many [other stickers], including the horizontal, yellow stripes of the Human Rights Campaign; "The Team," a sticker from the Model G20 Economics Summit where I collaborated with youth from around the globe; and stickers from "Kode with Klossy," a community of girls working to promote women's involvement in underrepresented fields.

A description of these extracurricular activities may have sounded like a laundry list of the author's accomplishments. But because she's naming other stickers (which connects them to the essay's thematic thread), she basically gets to name-drop those activities while showing other parts of her life. Nice.

One more way to emphasize a value is to combine or disguise it with humor. Example: "Nothing teaches patience (and how to tie shoes really fast) like trying to wrangle 30 first-graders by yourself for 10 hours per week," or "I've worked three jobs, but I've never had to take more crap from my bosses than I did this past summer while working at my local veterinarian's office."

In each of these examples, the little bit of humor covers the brag. Each is basically pointing out that the author had to work a lot and it wasn't always fun. No need to push this humor thing, though. Essays don't need to be funny to be relatable, and if the joke doesn't come naturally, it might come across as trying too hard.
Q: How do I transition between examples so my essay "flows" well?
A: The transitions are the toughest part of this essay type. Fine-tuning them will take some time, so be patient. One exercise I love is called Revising Your Essay in 5 Steps, and it basically works like this:

1. Highlight the first sentence of each of your paragraphs in bold, then read each one aloud in order. Do they connect, creating a short version of your essay? If not:

2. Rewrite the bold sentences so that they do connect (i.e., flow) together. Once you've done that ...

3. Rewrite each paragraph so it flows from those bolded sentences.

4. Read them aloud again. Wash, rinse, repeat until the ideas flow together.

This is a great way to figure out the "bones" (i.e., structure) of your essay.
Q: What am I looking for again?
A: You're looking for two things:

1. Parts of yourself that are essential to who you are (e.g., values or "islands of your personality"), and

2. A theme that connects them all.

Your theme could be something mundane (like your desk) or something everyone can relate to ( like the concept of home), but make sure that it is elastic (i.e. can connect to many different parts of you) and visual, as storytelling made richer with images.

Each of the values creates an island of your personality and a paragraph for your essay.
Montage step-by-step recap:

1. Review your brainstorming exercises and look for threads that connect 4-7 different values through 4-7 different experiences.

2. Choose an order for your examples. Consider describing one example per paragraph.

3. Create an outline.

4. Write a first draft. Once you do ...

5. Consider using the Revising Your Essay in 5 Steps Exercise to clarify your transitions.

Q: This is hard! I'm not finding it yet and I want to give up. What should I do?
A: Don't give up! Remember: be patient. This takes time. If you need inspiration, or assurance that you're on the right track, check out Elizabeth Gilbert's TED Talk, "Your Elusive Creative Genius."

All right, moving on.

If you answered "yes" to both questions at the beginning of this guide, I recommend exploring Narrative Structure. I'll explain this in more detail below.

My favorite content-generating exercise for Narrative Structure is the Feelings and Needs Exercise. It takes about 20 minutes (but do feel free to take longer-more time brainstorming and outlining leads to better, faster writing). Here's how it works:

The Feelings and Needs Exercise

Time: 15-20 minutes

Instructions: You'll find them here.

If you haven't completed the exercise, please do it now.

(And this is a dramatic pause before I tell you the coolest thing about what you just did.)

...

You may notice that your completed Feelings and Needs chart maps out a potential structure for your personal statement. If you're not seeing it, try turning your paper so that the challenges are at the top of your page and the effects are below them.

Voila. A rough outline for a narrative essay.

To clarify, this isn't a perfect way to outline an essay. You may not want to spend an entire paragraph describing your feelings, for example, or you may choose to describe your needs in just one sentence. And now that you see how it frames the story, you may want to expand on certain columns. However, the sideways Feelings and Needs chart can help you think about how the chronology of your experiences might translate into a personal statement.

Here's an essay that one student wrote after completing this exercise:

The Birth of Sher Khan

The narrow alleys of Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan where I spent the first 7 years of my life were infiltrated with the stench of blood and helplessness. I grew up with Geo news channel, with graphic images of amputated limbs and the lifeless corpses of uncles, neighbors, and friends. I grew up with hurried visits to the bazaar, my grandmother in her veil and five-year-old me, outrunning spontaneous bomb blasts. On the open rooftop of our home, where the hustle and bustle of the city were loudest, I grew up listening to calls to prayer, funeral announcements, gunshots. I grew up in the aftermath of 9/11, confused.

Like the faint scent of mustard oil in my hair, the war followed me to the United States. Here, I was the villain, responsible for causing pain. In the streets, in school, and in Baba's taxi cab, my family and I were equated with the same Taliban who had pillaged our neighborhood and preyed on our loved ones.

War followed me to freshman year of high school when I wanted more than anything to start new and check off to-dos in my bullet journal. Every time news of a terror attack spread, I could hear the whispers, visualize the stares. Instead of mourning victims of horrible crimes, I felt personally responsible, only capable of focusing on my guilt. The war had manifested itself in my racing thoughts and bitten nails when I decided that I couldn't, and wouldn't, let it win.

A mission to uncover parts of me that I'd buried in the war gave birth to a persona: Sher Khan, the tiger king, my radio name. As media head at my high school, I spend most mornings mastering the art of speaking and writing lighthearted puns into serious announcements. Laughter, I've learned, is one of the oldest forms of healing, a survival tactic necessary in war, and peace too.

During sophomore year, I found myself in International Human Rights, a summer course at Cornell University that I attended through a local scholarship. I went into class eager to learn about laws that protect freedom and came out knowledgeable about ratified conventions, The International Court of Justice, and the repercussions of the Srebrenica massacre. To apply our newfound insight, three of my classmates and I founded our own organization dedicated to youth activism and spreading awareness about human rights violations: Fight for Human Rights. Today, we have seven state chapters led by students across the U.S and a chapter in Turkey too. Although I take pride in being Editor of the Golden State's chapter, I enjoy having written articles about topics that aren't limited to violations within California. Addressing and acknowledging social issues everywhere is the first step to preventing war.

Earlier this year, through KQED, a Bay Area broadcasting network, I was involved in a youth takeover program, and I co-hosted a Friday news segment about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, the travel ban, and the vaping epidemic. Within a few weeks, my panel and interview were accessible worldwide, watched by my peers in school, and family thousands of miles away in Pakistan. Although the idea of being so vulnerable initially made me nervous, I soon realized that this vulnerability was essential to my growth.

I never fully escaped war; it's evident in the chills that run down my spine whenever an untimely call reaches us from family members in Pakistan and in the funerals still playing on Geo News. But I'm working towards a war-free life, internally and externally, for me and the individuals who can share in my experiences, for my family, and for the forgotten Pashtun tribes from which I hail. For now, I have everything to be grateful for. War has taught me to recognize the power of representation, to find courage in vulnerability, and best of all, to celebrate humor.

- - -
Fun fact: This essay was written by a student in one of my online courses who, as she shared this version with me, called it a "super rough draft."

I wish my super rough drafts were this good.

I share this essay with you not only because it's a super awesome essay that was inspired by the Feelings and Needs Exercise, but also because it offers a beautiful example of what I call the ...

Narrative Structure

You can think of a narrative essay as having three basic sections: Challenges + Effects; What I Did About It; What I Learned. Your word count will be pretty evenly split between the three, so for a 650-word personal statement, 200ish each.

To get a little more nuanced, within those three basic sections, a narrative often has a few specific story beats. There are plenty of narratives that employ different elements (for example, collectivist societies often tell stories in which there isn't one central main character/hero, but it seems hard to write a college personal statement that way, since you're the focus here). You've seen these beats before-most Hollywood films use elements of this structure, for example.

Status Quo: The starting point of the story. This briefly describes the life or world of the main character (in your essay, that's you).

The Inciting Incident: The event that disrupts the Status Quo. Often it's the worst thing that could happen to the main character. It gets us to wonder: Uh-oh ... what will they do next? or How will they solve this problem?

Raising the Stakes/Rising Action: Builds suspense. The situation becomes more and more tense, decisions become more important, and our main character has more and more to lose.

Moment of Truth: The climax. Often this is when our main character must make a choice.

New Status Quo: The denouement or falling action. This often tells us why the story matters or what our main character has learned. Think of these insights or lessons as the answer to the big "so what?" question.

For example, take a look at "The Birth of Sher Khan" essay above.

Notice that roughly the first third focuses on the challenges she faced and the effects of those challenges.

Roughly the next third focuses on actions she took regarding those challenges. (Though she also sprinkles in lessons and insight here.)

The final third contains lessons and insights she learned through those actions, reflecting on how her experiences have shaped her. (Again, with the caveat that What She Did and What She Learned are somewhat interwoven, and yours likely will be as well. But the middle third is more heavily focused on actions, and the final third more heavily focused on insight.)

And within those three sections, notice the beats of her story: Status Quo, The Inciting Incident, Raising the Stakes/Rising Action, Moment of Truth, New Status Quo.
How does the Feelings and Needs Exercise map onto those sections?
Pretty directly.

At the risk of stating the blatantly obvious, The Challenges and Effects columns of the Feelings and Needs Exercise ... are the Challenges + Effects portion of your essay. Same with What I Did and What I Learned.

The details in your Feelings and Needs columns can be spread throughout the essay. And it's important to note that it's useful to discuss some of your feelings and needs directly, but some will be implied.

For example, here's the Feelings and Needs Exercise map of the "Sher Khan" essay. And I know I just mentioned this, but I want you to notice something that's so important, I'm writing it in bold: The author doesn't explicitly name every single effect, feeling, or need in her essay. Why not? First, she's working within a 650-word limit. Second, she makes room for her reader's inferences, which can often make a story more powerful. Take a look:

Challenge 1: She grows up surrounded by war, which is explicitly stated.

Challenge 2: She comes to the U.S. to find safety (a need), which is implied, but instead, she is villainized, which is explicitly stated.

Effects: She is ostracized after arriving in the U.S. "Every time news of a terror attack spread," she writes, "I could hear the whispers, visualize the stares." Other effects are implied, and we are left to imagine-and feel for ourselves-the kind of impact this might have had on her, and on us. Vulnerability creates connection.

Feelings: Growing up in the aftermath of 9/11 leaves her feeling confused, and after she is shunned, she describes being unable to mourn the victims of horrible crimes, instead feeling "personally responsible, only capable of focusing on [her] own guilt." She explicitly names confusion and guilt, but she doesn't name all the things she felt, of course, as there's no need. Here, naming 1-2 key emotions helps us understand her inner world. If you choose to do the same in your essay, it'll help readers understand yours.

Needs: As I read this essay, I can imagine the author needed safety, order, love, respect, reassurance, connection, and many more. But these are implied by the story events and need not be explicitly stated. In fact, spelling these things out might have made the essay sound weird. Imagine if she'd said, "I needed safety and order" at the end of the first paragraph and "I needed respect, reassurance, and connection" at the end of the second paragraph. That might sound awkward or too obvious, right? While identifying your needs is a great tool for understanding your story (and self) on a deeper level, there's no need to explicitly state them at each juncture.

What She Did About It: The author developed a radio persona called Sher Khan, attended a summer course on human rights, founded an organization dedicated to youth activism, wrote articles on restrictive blasphemy laws and the forced repatriation of refugees, and probably other things that weren't even mentioned.

What She's Learned/Gained: She found a sense of purpose and discovered "everything [she has] to be grateful for." She writes: "War has taught me to never take an education or a story for granted, to find beauty in vulnerability, to remain critical of authority figures, to question what's socially accepted, and best of all, to celebrate humor."

Got it?

Cool. Here's another narrative example:

What Had to Be Done

At six years old, I stood locked away in the restroom. I held tightly to a tube of toothpaste because I'd been sent to brush my teeth to distract me from the commotion. Regardless, I knew what was happening: my dad was being put under arrest for domestic abuse. He'd hurt my mom physically and mentally, and my brother Jose and I had shared the mental strain. It's what had to be done.

Living without a father meant money was tight, mom worked two jobs, and my brother and I took care of each other when she worked. For a brief period of time the quality of our lives slowly started to improve as our soon-to-be step-dad became an integral part of our family. He paid attention to the needs of my mom, my brother, and me. But our prosperity was short-lived as my step dad's chronic alcoholism became more and more recurrent. When I was eight, my younger brother Fernando's birth complicated things even further. As my step-dad slipped away, my mom continued working, and Fernando's care was left to Jose and me. I cooked, Jose cleaned, I dressed Fernando, Jose put him to bed. We did what we had to do.

As undocumented immigrants and with little to no family around us, we had to rely on each other. Fearing that any disclosure of our status would risk deportation, we kept to ourselves when dealing with any financial and medical issues. I avoided going on certain school trips, and at times I was discouraged to even meet new people. I felt isolated and at times disillusioned; my grades started to slip.

Over time, however, I grew determined to improve the quality of life for my family and myself.

Without a father figure to teach me the things a father could, I became my own teacher. I learned how to fix a bike, how to swim, and even how to talk to girls. I became resourceful, fixing shoes with strips of duct tape, and I even found a job to help pay bills. I became as independent as I could to lessen the time and money mom had to spend raising me.

I also worked to apply myself constructively in other ways. I worked hard and took my grades from Bs and Cs to consecutive straight A's. I shattered my school's 1ooM breaststroke record, and learned how to play the clarinet, saxophone, and the oboe. Plus, I not only became the first student in my school to pass the AP Physics 1 exam, I'm currently pioneering my school's first AP Physics 2 course ever.

These changes inspired me to help others. I became president of the California Scholarship Federation, providing students with information to prepare them for college, while creating opportunities for my peers to play a bigger part in our community. I began tutoring kids, teens, and adults on a variety of subjects ranging from basic English to home improvement and even Calculus. As the captain of the water polo and swim team I've led practices crafted to individually push my comrades to their limits, and I've counseled friends through circumstances similar to mine. I've done tons, and I can finally say I'm proud of that.

But I'm excited to say that there's so much I have yet to do. I haven't danced the tango, solved a Rubix Cube, explored how perpetual motion might fuel space exploration, or seen the World Trade Center. And I have yet to see the person that Fernando will become.

I'll do as much as I can from now on. Not because I have to. Because I choose to.

- - -
There's so much to love about this essay.

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how the author wrote this essay so you can figure out how to write yours:
First, the author brainstormed the content of his essay using the Feelings and Needs Exercise.
Did you spot the elements of that exercise? If not, here they are:

Challenges: Domestic abuse, alcoholic step-dad, little brother Fernando's birth, family's undocumented status

Effects: Author and his brother shared the mental strain, father was arrested, funds were tight, mom worked two jobs, brothers took care of one another, they kept to themselves when dealing with financial and medical issues, avoided going on certain school trips, at times author was discouraged from meeting new people, grades started to slip

Feelings: Confused yet understanding, anxious, worried, relieved, alone, lost, vulnerable, lonely, disconnected, alone, heartbroken, ashamed, disillusioned

Needs: Order, autonomy, reassurance, growth, safety, understanding, empathy, hope, support, self-acceptance

What He Did About It: Took care of his youngest brother; became his own teacher; learned how to fix a bike, swim, socialize; found a job to help pay bills; improved his grades; broke a school swimming record; learned to play instruments; became the first student in his school to pass the AP Physics 1 exam; took a leadership role in clubs; and tutored and counseled friends and peers

What He Learned: He's proud of what he's done, but wants to do more: dance the tango, solve a Rubix Cube, explore perpetual motion, see the World Trade Center, see his little brother grow up ... and do you notice the value here? Hunger. That was his number one value, by the way. And he ends by saying he'll do these things not because he has to, but because he chooses to. This sounds like autonomy. Another one of his top values.

That's why I love beginning with this exercise. With just 15-20 minutes of focused work, you can map out your whole story.
Next, the author used Narrative Structure to give shape to his essay.
Did you spot the Narrative Structure elements? If not, here they are:

Inciting Incident: While the author is brushing his teeth, his father is arrested for domestic abuse.

Status Quo: His father had hurt his mom physically and mentally, and the author and his brother had shared the mental strain. "It's what had to be done," he writes.

Raising the Stakes: The entire second and third paragraphs, which describe how living without a father meant money was tight. Things improved for a while after his mother remarried, but his stepdad's chronic alcoholism (raise the stakes) plus a new little brother (raise the stakes again) made things even tougher. As if that weren't enough, the author raises the stakes even further by revealing that his family was undocumented at the time.

Moment of Truth: At his lowest point, he decides to do something about it. "I grew determined to improve the quality of life for my family and myself," he writes, then goes on to tell us all the amazing things he taught himself, the skills he learned, and interests he pursued. It's inspiring.

New Status Quo: Remember that the initial Status Quo was the author doing "what had to be done." Not so, by the end of the essay. In the final lines, he writes, "I'll do as much as I can from now on. Not because I have to. Because I choose to."

And again, notice that those fit within the framework of:

⅓: Challenges he faced and their impacts on him

⅓: What he did to work through them

⅓: What he learned through the process

Q: Are there any situations where I may not want to write about my life struggles?
A: Yes. Sometimes it can be too difficult to discuss them. Or you may be actively dealing with a challenge. If this is the case, reach out to your counselor, a trusted mentor, or, if possible, a therapist.

If money is an issue (i.e., you feel you can't afford a therapist) and you don't feel comfortable sharing your struggles with your counselor, ask them if they can refer you to a therapist or counselor who works on a sliding scale. Many mental health professionals work with clients at low rates or for free.

You may also choose to write about the struggles you've faced without getting into all the details. Saying, for example, that you experienced verbal abuse from your father, for example, may be enough; you don't necessarily need to share the specifics.
Q: Should I write about mental health challenges?
A: Mental health can be very difficult to write about for a few reasons:

1. If a student is still very much struggling through the challenges they describe, the admission reader may wonder if the student is ready for college.

2. In some cases, the admission officer may feel that a student is ready for college, but their institution may not be adequately equipped to help them thrive (not all colleges have the same kinds of resources, unfortunately).

3. Unfortunately, mental health challenges have become so common these days that many students write personal statements about them, and so it can be difficult to stand out. If you're feeling compelled to write about a mental health challenge, consider brainstorming some uncommon connections.

Questions to ask yourself if you're considering writing about mental health challenges:

Do I have any other topics I could write on? Are there other interesting parts of myself I'd like to share that could reveal important skills, qualities, and values? Or must I write about this? (Beware the trap discussed earlier of feeling like you must write about a challenge to write a great personal statement-it's not true! The authors of the "My Laptop Stickers" essay the"Home" essay were students who faced challenges but chose not to write about them.)

Have I truly worked through this? Am I able to devote the middle third of my essay to actions I've taken to work through the challenge and the final third to what I've learned? (You may not know the answers to these questions until you've done some writing. Maybe run your challenge through the Feelings and Needs Exercise to see what surfaces. Even if this doesn't end up being your personal statement topic, you might learn something important about yourself.)

If I were an admission officer reading this essay, would I feel like this student has their situation handled and they are truly ready for college? (If you're unsure, it's a great idea to have 2-3 folks read it who have a good understanding of what colleges are looking for.)

Could the mental health challenge be a brief explanation in the Additional Info section? To see if this might work for you, see how briefly you can describe your mental health challenge using factual bullet points. Devote one bullet point to the challenge, another bullet point to what you've done about it, and a final bullet point describing briefly what you've learned.

Important: If you have a counselor, I strongly recommend consulting with them as you decide whether to discuss a mental health challenge in your personal statement. If your counselor is writing a letter on your behalf, some of the information you'd like to share may already be accounted for. Talk to them and find out.
Q: Are there any situations where I may not want to write about my career in my personal statement ... even if I know what it is?
A: For sure. Say you're interested in becoming a doctor, but you're applying to a medical program with a supplemental prompt asking why you want to become a doctor. If you want to avoid repetition, you might not explicitly mention becoming a doctor at the end of your personal statement (you don't have to discuss your career at all in a personal statement; many students are unsure.). Instead, you might describe how you've developed qualities that will equip you for a career as a doctor (e.g., creativity, for example, or the ability to lead a team).

Narrative Structure step-by-step recap:

1. Complete the brainstorming exercises, as these will help no matter which structure you choose. Take special care to complete the Feelings and Needs Exercise, as it will help you outline your essay.

2. Create an outline using the Narrative Structure described above.

3. Write a first draft.

Check out my blog for more Narrative Structure examples.

Tagged: college essay tips, how to write a college essay

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How to Write a College Essay Step-by-Step

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First, what is the college essay (i.e., the personal statement)? This is your main essay. Your application centerpiece. The part of your application you're likely to spend the most time on. But, of course, I'd say that-I'm the College Essay Guy.

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How to Write an Outstanding Personal Statement: This is a pretty solid walk-through with tips on brainstorming, how to pick a topic, and even how to end

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How to Write an OUTSTANDING Personal Statement for College: A Crash Course

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7 GREAT College Essay Tips to Help You Stand Out: Our most viewed video. Basically a crash course intro to the personal statement.

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7 GREAT College Essay Tips to Help You Stand Out

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Amazon Future Engineer Career Tours inspire students to pursue tech careers by connecting the classroom to the real world. Tours require minimal setup and engage students in are

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The Senate Page Program offers students ages 12-18 a first-hand opportunity to visit the Capitol to observe and participate in the legislative process during the General Assembly’s 40-day legislative session. For one designated day, Senate Pages serve the Senate by delivering important information and messages to Senators in the Senate Chamber.

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If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware.

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Accounting+ helps students discover the vast opportunities in the accounting fields: career guides, scholarships, education & more!

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Forget what you've heard, explore accounting+ for opportunities, career options, and educational resources that work for you. Find out how accounting is limitless and opens the door to your future.

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Prep to Play: Navigating College Athletics

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Prep to Play: Navigating College Athletics

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Prep to Play: Navigating College Athletics

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https://www.yearup.org/

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2024 State Farm Scholarship Application (1)

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At VOX ATL, teens pitch story ideas to each other & get help from editors. Here’s a tool to refine your story idea and to plan necessary details for your first draft. Please fill out the following questions as best you can.

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At Roadtrip Nation, we know what it's like to feel lost, because we've been there. That's why, in 2001, we hit the road to get advice from people who'd found fulfilling work. Their wisdom taught us there's no "right" way to build a career—that there were actually endless unique paths we could take forward. Now, their stories will guide you toward work you care about, too.

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Scholarship Plug Social Media Shared Scholarships

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One of the most challenging aspects of college is funding the entire experience. For the 2021-2022 school year, the average price of tuition and fees was $38,070 for private colleges, $10,740 for in-state students at public institutions and $27,560 for out-of-state students at public colleges.

Below is the most comprehensive list of college scholarships that all college students and soon to be college students should take advantage of.

Here is a list of all the HBCUS in America.

This multiyear scholarship supports high school and undergraduate minority students who are entering, enrolled in, or transferring into a NAAB-accredited undergraduate architecture program. Apply here.

Amount: $20,000

Eligibility: US Citizen, Min 3.0 GPA, HS or College Student enrolling in NAAB-accredited architecture program

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) in partnership with Apple is proud to present the Apple HBCU Scholars Program to outstanding students attending a Historically Black College or University. Eligible students should be currently working towards a degree in an undergraduate, Masters, Law or Ph.D. program

Amount: 15,000

Gerber & Holder Workers' Compensation Attorneys, a top-rated Atlanta workers' compensation law firm, is proud to support students of all ages and background in their pursuit of higher education. We offer this privately funded scholarship to help create opportunity for the next generation of Americans and because we know every little bit helps!

Amount: $1000

Graduating female high school seniors or returning female college students from Kansas City with a minimum 3.2 GPA seeking a degree in a technology-related field

Deadline: April

Amount: Varies

Women pursuing STEM degrees at accredited undergraduate or master's programs

Deadline: April

Amount: $5,000

Ark Behavioral Health is giving away a scholarship of $1,000 to help pay for books, tuition, or daily expenses. We're asking students to answer the question "How Did Coronavirus Change the Way You Think of Mental Health?" in 600-800 words.

Amount: First Place: $1000 Runner Up: $250

Students can enter for a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship at eligible colleges/universities. Open to residents nationwide and US territories.

Amount: $5000

Eligibility: Must be 16 years old, HS/College/Graduate student

Deadline: Rolling until February 1

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and varying partners are proud to offer COVID-19 emergency financial assistance to students attending one of TMCF's 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Students selected will receive an emergency award of up to $1,000 for the 2022-2023 academic school year.

Deadline: August 31

Amount: $1,000

The Christophers Video Contest for College Students is open to students currently enrolled in and attending a graduate or undergraduate program at a college or university. To be considered, you must create a film or video (5 minutes or less in length) that best communicates the message and mission of The Christophers and its belief that one person can make a difference.

Amount: $2000

Deadline: Jan 16

The Senior Care Aging Matters Scholarship is a $1500 scholarship given annually to a college student that currently cares for an aging loved one, works within the senior community, or intends to pursue a career that will have an impact on the elderly population. Any existing student (or incoming freshman), in good academic standing, at a 2 or 4 year accredited college can apply for this scholarship. The recipient will need to demonstrate a unique and admirable understanding and desire to show us that "Aging Matters" to them.

The SeniorCare.com Aging Matters Scholarship awards $1500 to be applied towards tuition, books, board and other expenses.

Amount: $1500

Deadline: May 15

The $1,000 Scholarship is open to high school juniors and seniors, college students, and graduate school students. Must be currently enrolled in school or planning on enrolling within 24 months. One entry per person is all that is necessary.

Amount: $1000 Quarterly

We are happy to announce that every year FindMedicalAssistantPrograms.org awards Annual Scholarship Fund of $500 to an eligible Medical Assistant student. The Grant is awarded to help students lighten their financial load during their college education.

Amount: $500

This is an annual $1000 scholarship opportunity for current or soon-to-be undergrad who have had their life altered due to a bodily injury from an automotive or pedestrian accident, be it their own injury, that of a loved one, or an influential individual.

Amount: $1000

Deadline: December 15

The Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship is available to full-time students enrolled at an accredited university or college. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and submit a essay of no fewer than 800 words on the topic: "Discuss your vision of electronic design, engineering and manufacturing in the global economy."

Amount: $1000

Deadline: August 1 for Fall Semester/December 1 for Spring Semester

The Dietspotlight.com Research Leadership Scholarship is open to currently enrolled students. You must submit an essay of between 900 and 1,500 words on the following topic in order to be considered for this award: "Climate Change & Global Warming - The importance of Sustainable Practices.

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: December 31

The PixelPlex STEM Scholarship is open to current students enrolled in a STEM, economics or business field. You must submit an essay of at least 800 words on one of the following topics in order to be considered for this award: ""Blockchain: Focus on one industry or sector of your choice and describe how blockchain, in your opinion, will revolutionize it, and what existing problems will be solved within the next 3-5 years" or "Artificial Intelligence.

Amount: $2000

Deadline: December 5 and June 5

The $2,000 No Essay Scholarship is an easy scholarship with no essay required! The scholarship can be used to cover tuition, housing, books, or any education-related expenses. The monthly winner will be determined by random drawing and then contacted directly and announced in Niche's e-newsletter and on the Scholarship Winners page. You can apply once each month, with a new winner selected every month.

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: July 31

The UNCF General Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate and graduate students attending a UNCF member college or university.

Amount: $500

The Department of the Air Force announced this week it has extended more than 100 scholarship offers to new students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities as part of its efforts to increase diversity in its officer ranks.

Amount: $500

The Cedars-Sinai Department of Neurosurgery is committed to comprehensive, technologically advanced and clinically effective diagnosis and treatment of adult and pediatric neurological disorders.

Amount: $3,000

Deadline: April 15

Each new school year is an opportunity for a fresh start, so we're giving away a $1,000 scholarship to help kickoff the new school year.

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: Monthly

The SMART (Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation) Scholarship is open to currently enrolled college and graduate students. You must be pursuing a technical degree in one of the 21 STEM disciplines, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be able to participate in summer internships and willing to accept post-graduate employment at the DoD in order to be considered for the award.

Amount: $38,000

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and Champion Athleticwear are proud to offer financial assistance to outstanding students attending one of TMCF's 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI).

Amount: $2,500

The College Scholarship is available to students enrolled at an accredited high school, college or university. You must have a minimum 2.8 GPA and submit a 500-750 word essay to qualify for this award. The essay should detail how you are driven to innovate, how you plan to influence progress on any level in any space or how you have already affected positive change with creative thinking

Amount: $1,000

The Annual Scholarship Programs are operated at the local level through our 100 Black Men chapter network. Mentees and Collegiate 100 students have the opportunity to apply for scholarships directly through their mentors or local 100 Black Men chapter. Chapters across our network offer scholarship program opportunities to students through local Scholarship/College Fairs, Scholarship Dinners, and Scholarship Galas.

Amount: $3000

The ACHE Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship is offered to provide financial aid to minority students in healthcare management graduate programs to help offset tuition costs, student loans and expenses. Offered annually, the Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship is designated for minority students enrolled in their final year of a healthcare management graduate program.

Amount; $5000

Deadline: March 31

ACS awards renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students who want to enter the fields of chemistry or chemistry-related fields.African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander (excluding Asian) or American Indian high school seniors or college freshman, sophomores, or juniors pursuing a college degree in the chemical sciences or chemical technology are eligible to apply.

Amount: $5000

The Actuarial Diversity Scholarship promotes diversity within the profession through an annual scholarship program for Black/African American, Hispanic, Native North American and Pacific Islander students.

Will be a full-time undergraduate student at a U.S. accredited educational institution. Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), emphasis on math or actuarial courses. Entering college freshmen must have a minimum ACT math score of 28 or SAT math score of 600. Actuarial exams will be an important factor in evaluating scholarship qualifications for applicants entering their junior year and beyond

Amount; $4000

Deadline: March 31

The African American Network - Carolinas chapter provides scholarships to college-bound students from North and South Carolina who are pursuing a major in engineering, math, science, computer science, accounting, finance or business administration. Applicants must be a graduating senior at a North or South Carolina high school and must attend a four-year college or university located in North or South Carolina. Applicants must plan to major in engineering, computer science, the sciences, accounting, finance or business administration.

Deadline: March 31

The Union Scholars Program is a 10-week summer internship for students of color who are passionate about social justice, with an emphasis on workers' rights. Students will take part in a hands-on organizing experience with AFSCME members, and will enjoy an opportunity to travel and receive valuable, resume-building experience - all while getting paid. Applicants must be an undergraduate sophomore or junior at the time of the application and the interview process; have a minimum 2.5 GPA, be a college student of color and demonstrate an interest in working for social and economic justice through the labor union movement.

Amount: $6000

Architects Foundation and the American Institute of Architects created the Diversity Advancement Scholarship to help more minority students pursue a successful career in architecture. Eligible students must be a US citizen, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be: a high school senior; a rising second-year college student in an architecture program; or, a technical school or community college student who has completed high school or its equivalent and intends to transfer to an architecture program.

Amount: $20000

Deadline: Jan 17

The AIA Chicago Foundation Graduate Scholarship is a design scholarship established to increase diversity within the architectural profession by aiding an incoming or currently enrolled graduate student attending NAAB accredited master's degree program in architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, or the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Amount: 10000

Deadline: May 2

The AIA Chicago Foundation Undergraduate Diversity Scholarship is an academic scholarship established to increase diversity within the architectural profession by aiding a current undergraduate student or student transferring into the B.Arch program at the Illinois Institute of Architecture or the BS program in Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago. To be eligible, the applicant must: be a current undergraduate student or transfer student entering their 3rd or 4th year of an architecture program at Illinois Institute of Technology or University of Illinois at Chicago; demonstrate financial need; fulfill diversity requirements; submit a FAFSA form; and, two letters of recommendation; one letter should address your potential as an architect.

Amount: 10000

Deadline: March 31

The AICPA Minority Scholarship awards outstanding minority students to encourage their selection of accounting as a major and their ultimate entry into the profession. Applicants must be full-time minority students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in accounting or an accounting-related major. Applicants must have a GPA of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), demonstrate some financial need and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.

Amount: $5000

Deadline: March 1

The LITA/LSSI Minority Scholarship is awarded annually by the Library and Information Technology Association, a division of the American Library Association, and Library Systems and Services, Inc. The scholarship is designed to encourage the entry of qualified persons into the library and automation field who plan to follow a career in that field; who demonstrate potential in, and a strong commitment to the use of automated systems in libraries; and who are qualified members of a principal minority group (American Indian or Alaskan native, Asian or Pacific Islander, African-American, or Hispanic).

Amount: $2500

Deadline: March 1

The ALCOA Fund Scholarship provides support for underserved and underrepresented populations (African-American or Hispanic students) who are graduates of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District or a Catholic school in Greater Cleveland.

Deadline: July 31

Alice Belkin Memorial Scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding minority graduate students in the field of international relations who need financial assistance. Applicants must be a minority graduate student enrolled in studies related to the field of Globalization or International Relations at UCLA, be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Amount: $4000

Deadline: January 31

The Alma Exley Scholarship Program is dedicated to promoting greater diversity in the teaching profession. The program awards one scholarship annually to a person of color who is enrolled in a teacher-preparation program at a college or university in Connecticut. Those eligible include African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans.

Deadline: October 31

The American Association of Blacks in Energy is a professional association composed of African Americans in the energy industry.

Amount: $5000

Deadline: March 15

Applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada and must be American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander and must attend an ALA-accredited graduate program in library and information studies or an ALA-recognized NCATE School Library Media program.

Amount: $5000

Deadline: March 1

The CSUB C. Richard and Audrey Barnes Nursing Scholarship was established by C. Richard and Audrey Barnes to assist need-based students in pursuit of an undergraduate nursing degree. Eligible applicants must be a member of an underrepresented minority group.

Deadline: January 1

Established in recognition of Brown and Caldwell co-founder Dave Caldwell. This $5,000 scholarship funds a female and/or minority graduate level student pursuing an engineering degree in the drinking water field.

Amount: $5000

Deadline: December 20

The David Hudak Memorial Essay Contest for Freethinking Students of Color is open to minority students aged 17-21, who are either high school seniors who will be attending a North American college or university in the fall, or who are currently enrolled (if you are graduating from college/university in the spring or summer of the current year, you are also eligible).

To apply for the Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship, the applicant must be an African-American female; a graduating high school senior or GED recipient who has been accepted into a two- or four-year college or university, or a past Dr. Gussie M. Ware Memorial Scholarship recipient who is currently enrolled in college, and a 2.5 GPA.

Deadline: February 1

The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) is the preeminent membership organization committed to increasing the number of global Black executives in C-Suites, on corporate boards and in global enterprises. The ELC opens channels of opportunity for the development of Black executives to positively impact business and our communities.

Amount: $12000

Deadline: April 20

The EPP Undergraduate Scholarship Program targets students who have completed their sophomore year, attending minority serving institutions (MSIs), and have recently declared, or about to declare a major in atmospheric, oceanic, or environmental disciplines that support these sciences.

Amount: $45000

Deadline: January 31

To be eligible to apply for the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Foundation Computer and Video Game Arts Scholarship, you must be a woman or minority; be pursuing a degree leading to a career in computer and video game arts and sciences; be a current high school senior, college freshman, sophomore or junior; be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program at an accredited four (4) year college or university in the upcoming fall semester; and must be a U.S. citizen.

Deadline: March 2

The Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program is open to underrepresented, low-income and first-generation college-bound students. Students must be pursuing an undergraduate degree full-time in transportation, math, science, engineering, architecture, environmental design, PreMed, psychology, Spanish language/literature. The applicant does not have to be a U.S. citizen but must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and proof of attending college beginning in the fall semester.

Amount: $5000

Deadline: March 13

Minority teacher education scholars program is a collaborative performance-based scholarship program for African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, and Native American students. The participants in the program include Florida's Florida College System institutions and its public and private universities that have teacher education programs.

Amount: $4000

To be eligible for the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program you must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen or meet the "undocumented student" criteria of the RISE act, be a resident of Illinois, be a minority student of either African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American origin, be a high school graduate or hold a GED, be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at an Illinois institution of higher education in a course of study which, upon completion, qualifies you to be licensed as a preschool, elementary or secondary school teacher by the Illinois State Board of Education, including alternative teacher licensure and have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Amount: $5000

Deadline: March 1

The Monarch Awards Foundation annually provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors attending a Chicago metropolitan area high school and current college students who are Chicago area high school alumni.

Amount: $3000

Deadline: March 31

The Richard B. Fisher Scholarship program is a competitive undergraduate scholarship program established to provide outstanding black, Hispanic, Native American, and LGBT students with a financial award for exceptional academic achievement and a summer internship the summer prior to their junior or senior year in college.

The Moss Adams Foundation Scholarship is offered to women pursuing a degree in accounting. Eligible applicants must either be minorities, or women returning to school as current or re-entry juniors or seniors, or women pursuing their fifth year requirement through either general studies or within a graduate program.

Amount: $1000

Deadline: April 30

The MPower Artist Grants were launched to empower alumni of the Sphinx Competition, Sphinx Symphony, Sphinx Virtuosi, Sphinx Performance Academy, Sphinx Medals of Excellence and EXIGENCE to achieve their career objectives in classical music through granting competitive scholarships.

Deadline: March 6

Through the NACME Scholars Program, NACME provides block grants to colleges and universities that, in turn, award the money to talented African American, American Indian, and Latino students enrolled in engineering programs as part of their financial aid packages.

Amount: $16000

Financially active members of the NBMBAA who are U.S. citizens may apply for a variety of graduate-level scholarships at NBMBAA-partner Universities.

Financially active members of the National Black MBA Association who are U.S. citizens may apply for undergraduate scholarships. In order to apply, applicants must be a student in their first, second, third, or fourth year enrolled full-time at a participating accredited college or university at the time of award.

The National Press Club Diversity Scholarship for Studies in Journalism encourages further diversity in journalism. The scholarship consists of a $2,000 one-year scholarship, which can be renewed for up to three years at $2,500 per year, and a first-year stipend of $500 for book purchases.

Amount: $2500

Deadline: March 1

National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation Minority Scholarship
The National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation Minority Scholarship is designed to encourage minorities, ages 17 and older, to enter into the field of strength and conditioning.

Amount: $2000

Deadline: October 15

The National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program will administer up to 40 master's degree-level counseling fellowships of $15,000 for addictions counseling students, plus the travel expenses to participate in other program-related trainings.

Amount: $15000

The NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors (Doctoral) administers up to 20 doctoral-level counseling fellowships of $20,000, plus the travel expenses to participate in program-related trainings.

Amount: $20000

The NBCC Foundation will administer up to 30 master's-level counseling fellowships of $10,000, plus the travel expenses to participate in program-related trainings for mental health counseling students.

Amount; $10000

Our mission is to continue to support Equal Employment Opportunity for African Americans, other minorities, women and people with Disabilities within the FAA.

Amount: $1500

Deadline: June 15

The mission of the Herbert Lehman Fund is to help transform the promise of racial equality into a social, economic, and political reality for all people by supporting talented undergraduate students who need financial help to stay in school and successfully complete their bachelor's degree.

Amount: $8000

Deadline: April 24

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2023 Scholarships - Comprehensive List Of HBCU Scholarships - HBCU GRAD

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A Comprehensive list of HBCU Scholarships for 2023

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National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies

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Welcome to the Cyber Career Roadmap (Multi-Pathway Tool)!

This digital tool offers an interactive way for working professionals (cyber and non-cyber), employers, students, and recent grads to explore and build their own career roadmap across the 52 different NICE Framework work roles. The start of your next cyber journey is only a few clicks away.

Users can select up to five work roles to learn more about their shared skillsets, alignment to the Cyber Skill Communities, or related specialization and functions. The Cyber Career Roadmap highlights the mobility between these connection points to help you and others determine the next steps in your career progression and skillset development. The tool also offers recommended on/off-ramps (i.e. steppingstones) and secondary work roles to consider and pursue in your career roadmap.

No matter where you are in your cyber career, the Cyber Career Roadmap provides a starting point in career planning.

To get started, select from three to five work roles of interest, or use the search bar.

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Welcome to the Cyber Career Roadmap (Multi-Pathway Tool)!

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Youth Employment: A Foundation for Mental Health and Well-Being

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Youth Employment: A Foundation for Mental Health and Well-Being

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Any links to non-federal websites on this page provide additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of this federal site, but linking to such sites does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor of the information or organization providing such information. For more information, please visit https://www.dol.gov/general/disclaim.

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https://www.gafutures.org/scholarship-search

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From studio to streaming, discover how computer science and people make listening to your favorite songs possible.

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Full Amazon Music: Careers Behind the Beats Solo Play

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From studio to streaming, discover how computer science and people make listening to your favorite songs possible.

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https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/6accfd4800b74815962d131496e0f407

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Virtual Field Trips to Explore Careers of the Future

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How did we go from renting DVDs from the store in the 'ancient' 1990s to being able to stream movies from anywhere at any time? Take students behind the scenes of the cloud to discover the components of computers, how data is stored at data centers, and the hardware and protocols that send data around the world at the speed of light. Along the way, students meet career professionals that work as a hardware engineer, fiber splicer, data center operations technician, and network engineer.

Before the Tour

Download a tour-specific Teacher Toolkit that includes standards alignment, a Kahoot! facilitation guide, student worksheet, discussion questions, certificate of completion, and more!

We provide thousands of classrooms with quality computer-science teacher training and curriculum to make sure educators have the tools they need to feel confident in the classroom.

Amazon Future Engineer students can boost their future for themselves and their community with the support of college funding, paid internships, and industry mentors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your submission!

We use cookies to enhance your visit to our site.

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Virtual Field Trips to Explore Careers of the Future

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How did we go from renting DVDs from the store in the 'ancient' 1990s to being able to stream movies from anywhere at any time? Take students behind the scenes of the cloud to discover the components of computers, how data is stored at data centers, and the hardware and protocols that send data around the world at the speed of light.

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Scholarship Plug Social Media Shared Scholarships

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A directory of scholarships updated on a weekly basis

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Scholarship Plug Social Media Shared Scholarships

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Students will receive an email informing them that their FAFSA form has been fully processed and their FAFSA information has been sent to the schools they listed on their form.

Students who applied using the online FAFSA form will receive an email that they can access their FAFSA Submission Summary by logging in to StudentAid.gov using their account username and password.

The Department will send an email reminder to previous FAFSA applicants who have not yet submitted a 2024-25 FAFSA form.

Students will be able to make corrections to their FAFSA once their eligibility has been calculated and ISIR generated. Students may view their eligibility calculation by logging back into their Studentaid.gov account.

The Department will fully process paper applications in the weeks following.

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 Immigrants Rising on Instagram: "📣 Today's #ScholarshipFriday post highlights 7 scholarships with February deadlines:
1️⃣ thedream.us/scholarships/national-scholarship
2️⃣ aami.org/utility-navigation/AAMI-Foundation/aami-foundation-new
3️⃣ sbbscholarship.com
4️⃣ iamcybersafe.org/s/scholarships
5️⃣ sae.org/participate/scholarships
6️⃣ asme.org/asme-programs/students-and-faculty/scholarships
7️⃣ asmfoundation.org/students/scholarships 

Are you a high school student looking for summer opportunities, contests, and other resources for high school students? Check out Reclaim FEE, a platform that helps immigrant and low-income students succeed in high school. Farida Abd el Hak created this platform to help and share resources with other students like her, who are having difficulty finding opportunities outside their high school campuses.

Check it out ➡️ highschoolguidereclaimfee.org

#undocuscholarships #undocuscholars #undocugrads #scholarships"

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 Immigrants Rising on Instagram: "📣 Today's #ScholarshipFriday post highlights 7 scholarships with February deadlines:
1️⃣ thedream.us/scholarships/national-scholarship
2️⃣ aami.org/utility-navigation/AAMI-Foundation/aami-foundation-new
3️⃣ sbbscholarship.com
4️⃣ iamcybersafe.org/s/scholarships
5️⃣ sae.org/participate/scholarships
6️⃣ asme.org/asme-programs/students-and-faculty/scholarships
7️⃣ asmfoundation.org/students/scholarships 

Are you a high school student looking for summer opportunities, contests, and other resources for high school students? Check out Reclaim FEE, a platform that helps immigrant and low-income students succeed in high school. Farida Abd el Hak created this platform to help and share resources with other students like her, who are having difficulty finding opportunities outside their high school campuses.

Check it out ➡️ highschoolguidereclaimfee.org

#undocuscholarships #undocuscholars #undocugrads #scholarships"

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immigrantsrising on February 16, 2024: "📣 Today's #ScholarshipFriday post highlights 7 scholarships with February deadlines:
1️⃣ t..."

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Immigrants Rising (@immigrantsrising)

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Getting Started

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the main application used to apply for federal or state-supported financial aid to pay for a college education. Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free, easyand provides you access to the largest source of financial aid available.

Financial aid covers expenses like tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportationand other college-related expenses. The FAFSA can be used to determine eligibility for:

Federal Student Aid - Pell Grants and student loans.

State Financial Aid - HOPE Scholarship and Grant programs.

Institutional Financial Aid - Institutional Scholarships offered by a college.

Private Financial Aid - Private Scholarships provided by businesses or other organizations.

For more information, view the FAFSA Overview and How to Fill Out the FAFSA videos provided by Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education.

Source: Federal Student Aid

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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the main application used to apply for federal or state-supported financial aid to pay for a college education. Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free, easyand provides you access to the largest source of financial aid available.

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Types of Financial Aid: Loans, Grants, and Work-Study Programs

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Types of Financial Aid: Loans, Grants, and Work-Study Programs

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Have you applied to a program posted to this Padlet?

Do you have any suggestions to improve this Padlet?

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 Scholarships and Financial Aid Websites

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Virtual Field Trips to Explore Careers of the Future

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How did we go from renting DVDs from the store in the 'ancient' 1990s to being able to stream movies from anywhere at any time? Take students behind the scenes of the cloud to discover the components of computers, how data is stored at data centers, and the hardware and protocols that send data around the world at the speed of light. Along the way, students meet career professionals that work as a hardware engineer, fiber splicer, data center operations technician, and network engineer.

Before the Tour

Download a tour-specific Teacher Toolkit that includes standards alignment, a Kahoot! facilitation guide, student worksheet, discussion questions, certificate of completion, and more!

We provide thousands of classrooms with quality computer-science teacher training and curriculum to make sure educators have the tools they need to feel confident in the classroom.

Amazon Future Engineer students can boost their future for themselves and their community with the support of college funding, paid internships, and industry mentors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your submission!

We use cookies to enhance your visit to our site.

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Virtual Field Trips to Explore Careers of the Future

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How did we go from renting DVDs from the store in the 'ancient' 1990s to being able to stream movies from anywhere at any time? Take students behind the scenes of the cloud to discover the components of computers, how data is stored at data centers, and the hardware and protocols that send data around the world at the speed of light.

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STORYTIME: How I Won a $40,000 BigFuture Scholarship!

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Real Talk is a safe space for you to learn and engage, while also getting answers to your most pressing questions about life after high school. No matter where you are on your journey, we're here for you. Family members and educators are also encouraged to participate!

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Empowering Black students to own their futures. Register for our Real Talk fall 2023 events.

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Real Talk is a safe space for you to learn and engage, while also getting answers to your most pressing questions about life after high school. No matter where you are on your journey, we're here for you. Family members and educators are also encouraged to participate!

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Empowering Black students to own their futures. Register for our Real Talk fall 2023 events.

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Listen to College Readiness 101 on Spotify. The College Readiness 101 Podcast is dedicated to assisting college-bound families, educators, and student groups with preparing for the high school to college transition. Brannon Jones, the award winning education author, will guide you through the process.

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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Getting to Know Your Brain: Dealing with Stress

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Guided Visualization: Dealing with Stress

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Guided Visualization: Dealing with Stress

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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Guided Visualization: Dealing with Stress

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The FDIC Money Smart financial education program can help people of all ages enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships. First released in 2001 and regularly updated since then, Money Smart has a long track record of success.

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How Money Smart Are You?

How Money Smart Are You? is our new suite of 14 financial games and related resources. It's available in both English and Spanish.

Earn (virtual) coins, have some fun, and learn about everyday financial topics.

You can play with or without an account - it's your choice and explained on the site. If you want an account, create one on the site. Accounts from the Money Smart Computer-Based Instruction (CBI) product will not transfer to How Money Smart Are You?

The CBI is no longer available.

Launch How Money Smart Are You?

Podcast Network

The Money Smart Podcast Network is the portable audio (MP3) version of Money Smart. With verbal descriptions and topic based scenarios, the MP3 version uses dialogue to deliver basic financial information.

The four categories are:

Basics of Banking

Checking Accounts

Savings/Spending Plan

Borrowing Money

A CD-ROM version can be ordered at MP3 (Audio) Version English and Spanish (DVD) (catalog.fdic.gov) for those without internet access.

Parent/Caregiver Guides

You can positively shape your child's financial development even if you are not an expert on financial concepts. Money Smart Parent/Caregiver also offer practical activities and conversation-starters on common financial topics.

Savings-Related Resources

Saving money is a great place for consumers to start, or continue, to work on their finances. Using money that you've set aside to pay for unexpected expenses or to make a large purchase can help you avoid debt. And, knowing that you're saving for long-term plans like college or retirement can give you peace of mind. There are many different reasons to save and a variety of ways to do it. For starters, review a list of our top five money saving ideas from the FDIC Consumer News: America Saves Week.

The America Saves initiative, (americasaves.org)
Encourages all Americans to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth. You can visit this website to make a savings commitment and learn additional strategies to save.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Start Small, Save Up (consumerfinance.gov)
Initiative can help people start and build savings.

MyMoney.gov
The federal government's one-stop website that provides financial education resources from more than 20 federal agencies. It includes Save and Invest page that provides a comprehensive catalog of resources from federal agencies on saving and investing.

The Department of Labor (dol.gov)
Provides information for owners of small business on various retirement plan options.

FDIC Encourages Taxpayers to Take Advantage of IRS Programs and Save More of Their Refunds
Internal Revenue Service Programs provide free income tax preparation performed by certified volunteers.

#GetBanked
Learn How to Open an Account at an FDIC-Insured Bank

Manage My Checking Account - PDF
You can use these strategies to help you manage your checking account.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Potential CRA and Business Opportunities may be Available Before the Start of Tax Season
Financial institutions may be able be involved with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) coalitions before the start of tax season.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How Money Smart Are You? is our new suite of 14 financial games and related resources. It's available in both English and Spanish. Earn (virtual) coins, have some fun, and learn about everyday financial topics. You can play with or without an account - it's your choice and explained on the site.

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Georgia Youth Justice Coalition - Our Powerful Stories

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Georgia Youth Justice Coalition - Our Powerful Stories

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Our stories are powerful - yours included! A vital part of the movement for Georgia's future involves telling stories often unheard. These include stories that dismantle white supremacy, capitalism, and voter suppression. They're also stories about our real experiences, and the power we hold when we organize together.

GYJC works with students and families to uplift stories like this - and this form is how we get to know you. We'll share a few prompts for you, and collect your contact information. Then, you'll get the opportunity to let us know when and how you'd like us to uplift your story. We'd like to share your stories to the press, in videos, on social media, and to our organizing allies - but we have numerous layers of consent and trust-building so your story is shared in the ways that you like and are alright with.

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THE PLANETEER ALLIANCE IS A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF PASSIONATE YOUNG PEOPLE TRANSFORMING THEIR IMPATIENCE FOR CHANGE INTO ACTION FOR THE CLIMATE AND PLANET

Planeteer Alliance expands on the environmental leadership and campaign design training that CPF has delivered to 2,500 young people from 90 different nations over the last 6 years.

This holistic, youth-designed, and youth-led program offers the global community of young environmental advocates and changemakers a consistent and reliable home for solutions, trainings, resources, opportunities, and a peer community that meets in a safe environment. Planeteers learn, share ideas, collaborate, cheer each other on, and pick each other up when they falter – harkening back to the original mythology of Captain Planet & the Planeteers – “By YOUR powers combined, I am Captain Planet!”

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Captain Planet Foundation - Engaging & empowering young people to be problem solvers for the planet

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The Planeteer Alliance is a global community of passionate young people transforming their impatience for change into action for the climate and planet

Planeteer Alliance expands on the environmental leadership and campaign design training that CPF has delivered to 2,500 young people from 90 different nations over the last 6 years.

This holistic, youth-designed, and youth-led program offers the global community of young environmental advocates and changemakers a consistent and reliable home for solutions, trainings, resources, opportunities, and a peer community that meets in a safe environment. Planeteers learn, share ideas, collaborate, cheer each other on, and pick each other up when they falter - harkening back to the original mythology of Captain Planet & the Planeteers - "By YOUR powers combined, I am Captain Planet!"

Captain Planet Foundation is excited to partnering with Clayton County Public Schools, Accenture, with the generous support of Susan Jonas Klein to develop the Green Heart Challenge for young people to innovate and develop place-based solutions to the biggest challenges posed by climate change and climate injustice.

Clayton County Public School Educators:
Register for the 2022-23 CCPS Climate Justice: Green Heart Challenge by 11/18/2022

Educators interested in having students participate in future Green Heart Challenges: Sign up for updates

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Planeteer Alliance - Captain Planet Foundation

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The Planeteer Alliance is a global community of passionate young people transforming their impatience for change into action for the climate and planet Planeteer Alliance expands on the environmental leadership and campaign design training that CPF has delivered to 2,500 young people from 90 different nations over the last 6 years.

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What is a major? What's the difference between a major and a minor?

A major is a specific subject area college students specialize in. Typically, between one-third and one-half of the courses you'll take in college will be in your major or related to it. Some colleges even let you design your own major!

A minor is a secondary field you can study in while completing your major degree program. It's a specialization that requires fewer courses than a major. Minors are only required for certain degrees.

When do you declare a major?

Generally at most four-year colleges you don't have to decide on a major until the end of your sophomore year. This gives you time to try a couple of classes and see what you like before you decide, and earn general education credits that count toward your degree. Keep in mind, certain fields and programs (like most pharmacy programs) require an early commitment so you can take all the required classes and graduate on time.

Steps to picking a major

1. What do you like?

The first thing to consider when picking a major is what you like to do. By the time you graduate high school you'll have enough information and experience from your classes to figure out what you might or might not be interested in pursuing. Here are some ways you can dig deeper:

List 10 things you love. Listing what you love doing, both inside or outside the classroom, is a great way to see possible paths you can take. If you enjoy art and drawing but you're also interested in technology, consider majoring in graphic design. If you're into business and traveling, investigate majoring in international business.

Make a list of strengths and weaknesses. Figuring out your strengths and weaknesses can help you assess what kind of major to go into. For example, if public speaking isn't really your thing, you might want to avoid majors that could lead to careers like being a news anchor or spokesperson. You can also take your weaknesses and build on them in college. If public speaking is something you want to improve, go ahead and take a speech class. You might love it!

Use the Roadmap to Careers Connect your interests to majors and careers, and explore video interviews with professionals in different industries to hear how they got where they are today. Use your College Board login to map your future-it's free for students who take the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, or the SAT.

2. What are your career goals?

After digging into what you're interested in and potential careers options, it's time to think about your goals and your future career-and how easy or how hard it might be to find employment.

If you have a specific career goal in mind, you might need to pick your major or program in advance, sometimes as early as when you're applying to college.

It's also good to know what degree you'll need for the field that interests you. Here's an overview of different college degrees:

Associate Degree The two-year associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS). Some students who earn this degree transfer to a four-year bachelor's program; others use it to go straight to work. Community colleges, career colleges, and some four-year colleges offer associate degrees.

Bachelor's Degree This degree requires completing a four- or five-year college program. Most students earn a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science degree (BS). You can also study toward a bachelor of fine arts or bachelor of architecture degree.

Joint Degree Students can earn a bachelor's degree plus a graduate or professional degree in less time if they combine them. A student on this track may apply to a graduate program as an undergraduate and begin the graduate program in their fourth year of college.

Graduate Degree Graduate degrees are advanced degrees pursued after earning a bachelor's degree. Examples are a master of arts (MA) or master of science (MS). Students generally earn a master's degree after two years of study. A doctoral degree (for example, a PhD) requires four or more years of study.

3. Talk to advisers and professionals

The best source of college advice is your school counselor. They've helped lots of students who are making the same decisions you are. Your school counselor can tell you more about college majors and program offerings. Here are five questions you might want to ask a counselor.

1. Are there any college fairs at this school, or nearby?

2. Can you put me in touch with recent grads who are going to the colleges on my wish list?

3. Which elective courses do you recommend?

4. Do you have any information to help me start exploring careers?

5. Do you have any college planning sessions scheduled?

Check out BigFuture™ for a list of 20 questions to ask your counselor to get the conversation started.

You can also reach out to professionals working in the field you're interested in. They can talk to you about how they got from college to where they are now. Whether they're your parents, guardians, family members, or people you interact with professionally, set up a time to interview them. Be prepared with a set of questions to ask.

4. Backups

Try to come up with one or two backup majors. This way you've got options if you decide to switch your major.

What if you can't decide on a major?

It's okay to enter college as an undecided major. You don't have to know what you want to major in (or even what you want to do with the rest of your life) during your major search process. College gives you the opportunity to take classes you think you might enjoy or even classes you've never been exposed to before.

Volunteer and find internships. Internships and volunteer work are the best ways to get real hands-on experience in fields a major can lead to. You'll get a great understanding of what day-to-day life in the profession is like. If you can, talk to people in different departments to see if their work interests you.

Events at local colleges/college visits. You can learn a lot from visiting colleges or attending events on campus. Colleges have open houses or accepted student days where department representatives answer questions and offer you their knowledge. There are also students around you can talk to about their major and class experiences in the major.

Can you change your major?

You can absolutely change your major in college. Studies find that most students change majors at least once and many students switch several times. No matter what year you're in, sometimes the major you declare doesn't end up being the right one. If you decide to change your major, make sure the credits you need align with your expected graduation date. Go to your counselor for guidance on picking a new major and setting up your schedule.

It's a big decision, but you know yourself and your interests better than anyone. Remember, when choosing a major, the most important thing is to make sure you're happy and clear about your priorities for your life and career after college.

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A major is a specific subject area college students specialize in. Typically, between one-third and one-half of the courses you'll take in college will be in your major or related to it. Some colleges even let you design your own major! A minor is a secondary field you can study in while completing your major degree program.