Short term volunteering is where the FUN starts…as well as BIG TIME learning that you simply cannot get anywhere else–even in a job. First of all, whether it’s short term (weeks? months?) or long term (months? year?), you’ve got to ask yourself, “Is this an organization that fits into a long term career or college entry plan? Since there are so many opportunities (why would a business turn down someone who wants to help out FOR FREE?), it’s always a good idea to lay out a volunteer plan that is stacked with groups-companies-organizations that will yield the “brand” that you want scholarship reviewers to see and comprehend. Yes, some will say “No thanks” (maybe they’ve got insurance issues, labor union issues, etc that prevent the “yes” that you wanted. No matter. Just keep moving down your list. You already learned how to have “thick skin” and how to “not let a NO bother you” because it simply is not “personal.” And make sure you remember to have your “60 second commercial” ready for this volunteer interview. Even though you will be working for free, it’s a very big deal to treat this formally, like a paid job interview.Does it fit into my scholarships and grants plan? Will this organization experience ADD to my goals? Take away from my goals? Or is it neutral to my goals? These kinds of questions should be asked because, when you are volunteering PROPERLY, you should be doing something worthwhile for the organization and because it does not cost the organization, you can probably find volunteer work in any number of organizations that actually fit your career, college  or scholarships plan.

Should you set up scholarship search hours each week?

Wanna go to a movie with a friend or go to the game with the girls and guys tonight? You'll have to learn to say "no, not this time" more often than you'd ever like to do. Isn’t it true that we always would rather do the fun thing than the hard thing? Isn’t that pretty much what we call, “human?” Of course. So relax, knowing that this is normal. At the same time, this is the part of self-discipline that more and more often people have to learn to overcome as they get older. Some call it maturity since it seems to come with age. It also comes with life that enforces it in certain circumstances (e.g., job, marriage, etc). And other times, it is quite appropriate to do a family or social thing not previously scheduled. You don't want be overly rigid on this! About wanting to do the "fun thing"...We naturally want to please our emotional center

Essays and Writers Block

Hasn’t everyone had cases of “writer’s block?” Of course. But there are some great solutions out there. Here’s one. Write these words atop a sheet of paper (or type them at the top on your wordprocessor): Who, What, Why, Where, When and How. These six words comprise most all papers when all is said and […]

Short Term Volunteering

Short term volunteering is where the FUN starts…as well as BIG TIME learning that you simply cannot get anywhere else–even in a job. First of all, whether it’s short term (weeks? months?) or long term (months? year?), you’ve got to ask yourself, “Is this an organization that fits into a long term career or college entry plan? […]

Writing a “Killer Essay”

There are certain qualities, both tangible and intangible, that seem to be found in really great essays. Every applicant should strive to learn what these are and how to implement them in their late and final draft. I say late and final because it usually takes many drafts before a truly “killer essay” can even […]