High school and college are the last major opportunities for you to learn information in life.  When you get into graduate school or the work force, you will specialize in some field and won’t have as much of an opportunity to gain a wide base of knowledge.

This knowledge is useful for many reasons:

1. You can converse better with individuals—by knowing a little bit about many subjects, you can contribute to almost any conversation.  This can help make you better connections and set you up for success, especially with people who have specialized in fields that are difficult to understand for most people.

2. You can find out what you like—even if you think that you know what you are doing in your life, by taking lots of different types of classes, you can find out what fits you best.  Many classes can spark you interest in some field, so don’t be closed to taking a class in a new subject.

3. Trivia—you can become a trivia master.  I’ve recently been having lots of fun participating in Bistro 33’s Pub Quiz, a weekly trivia night where many academics come to challenge themselves.  By taking a diverse array of classes, you be informed of the correct answers of Albert Camus, Gesalt Psychology, the Krebs Cycle, Stockholm Syndrome, the Dead Sea, elastic rebound, Eddie Vedder, David Duchovny, Jerome Bettis, and more.

I’ve really discovered in college that I really like to learn and learn about lots of things.  I also don’t think that you can fully appreciate you education until it’s finished, so try to keep this in mind while going through it.

Thus, I’d suggest that in high school and college, you take as wide of an array of classes as you possibly can.  It’s the last real chance that you have to learn about subjects such as philosophy, anthropology, geology, politics, history, English, foreign languages, sociology, and more.  Just give it a try, be open and excited to learn.

Peace,

Tyler

Procrastination—the dreaded phrase for inefficiency that most of us have grown all too familiar with.  I’ll admit, I struggle with procrastinating sometimes, but I’d like to share some of the ways that you can stay on task.

1. Use a Calendar—this is the best way to fill your schedule.  My favorite is iCal, probably because I’m a Mac person, but you should have a schedule to keep you on task.  With a calendar, you can make sure that you have stuff to do so that you don’t procrastinate.  You can also see when you’re going to have extra time to get things done.  If you realize that you have time in your schedule, you can get involved with more activities.  By planning, you can really overcome procrastination.

2. Stay Busy—I’ve heard a very wise person tell me that if you want something to get done, you give it to the person that has a ton of things to do, not the person with nothing to do.  This may seem counter-intuitive, but it is based in one single fact: that those who are working just keep working and those who are not just don’t.  To avoid procrastination, I’d keep busy, that way, you won’t stop and start wasting time.

3. Varied Activities—I’ve found that you are more productive when you aren’t doing the same thing for too long.  By varying activities, you can stay more alert an intrigued by something because it remains fresh.  Once you’ve gotten to the point with something where you just aren’t paying attention, change and get something else done.  So, when you’re planning, I’d recommend not spending more than 5 hours on the same thing (with exceptions).  Break things up, and you’ll find yourself more productive.

4. Don’t … – Here are some things that you shouldn’t do that I’ve found to just suck up your time and are unproductive.  As a disclaimer, some of these things can be nice breaks or maybe good to do with friends, but try to stay away from these as much as possible.  The unproductive list: watching TV, playing videogames, sitting on Facebook.  Short, but sweet.  Stay away!

Those are some tips for staying on task and getting stuff done.  I hope that this helps.  Stay active!

Peace,

Tyler

This transition period from summer to work mode, however, I find is more bearable when I have interesting classes to look forward to. And during the summer when I’m thinking about the past classes I’ve really enjoyed taking, I actually miss school. Seriously. What I don’t miss are those 9 am classes…but that’s another subject.

Right now, I still have some issues I need to tweak with my current schedule. In particular, I have to deal with fulfilling all those pesky breadth requirements. But these “restrictions” are often blessing in disguise, as they force you to explore topics outside of your comfort zone. If you’re lucky like me, you might take a class that you will later become madly passionate about.

In the high school context, these classes can also serve as buffers to your more intensive academic classes. Wouldn’t it be nice to relax with a pen and paper sketching that flower in the corner of the room after you just attacked a 3-hour AP U.S. History final?

So when you’re faced with choosing those classes…think about what you would LIKE to learn to do. It doesn’t mean that you have to have any experience in it at all. Actually that’s the best part about these classes that the high school offers—they provide intro classes and other levels. So if you had childhood dreams of becoming a dancer, what’s stopping you from taking that intro ballet course? The best part is that you’re pretty much multi-tasking, by fulfilling requirements and just trying something new. And really, enjoy your time in the class. You don’t have to worry so much about homework and grades. So this is a chance for you to just learn a new skill.

Those graduation and breadth requirements don’t seem so bad after all.

Just thought I’d throw in my two cents on a topic that might be weighing on many of your minds (and your parents’ minds) at some point: how far away college should be from home.  I left Ohio to go to school in California, so hopefully my experiences can add to the conversation Tyler started in his post.

My parents had pretty different views on me being far away.  My mom thought I should go wherever was best for me, and if that was far away, then so be it.  My dad was hoping I’d stay in the Midwest or end up on the east coast.  Even though I got into Stanford in December, it wasn’t until April that my dad warmed up to the possibility of me being out west for school.  It took a lot of discussion, and with good reason: being that far from home is a big deal for a close family.  However, the fact that I have relatives in the Bay Area eased some of my dad’s concerns.

Here are the lessons I’ve learned from 3 years living three time zones from my family:

1.  Geographic distance can be overcome somewhat by close relationships….

Going home takes longer and costs more, but my parents and I have made it a priority to get back when I can.  I’ve probably spent as much time back in Cleveland as most of my friends who go to school closer to home.  And keeping up by phone and email is something you can do as much as you want no matter how far from home you are.

2. …But say goodbye to flexible travel plans

What I’ve really lost by being so far away is spontaneity.  The closer you are, the easier it is to come home for a weekend on a whim if friends are in town or just to see your family.  Once you’re far enough that you have to fly, going home becomes something you have to plan in advance.

3. Having local connections helps when you’re far from home

My aunt and uncle live in the area, and they’ve been a huge plus in my college experience.  If I need emergency transportation, a place to crash, or just advice, they always come through.  If you’re going to strike out for a new part of the country, having relatives or family friends in the area makes more of a difference than exactly how many miles you are from home.

4. Distance doesn’t equal independence

Some people are excited to get away from their hometown or their parents.  If you’re one of them, just know that you don’t have to travel 3000 miles away to find what you’re looking for.  If it’s independence you seek, then I have good news: independence is totally unrelated to geography.  It’s about taking responsibility for yourself, and that’s something you can do anywhere.

-Ian

There is competition to be found no matter where you look: in sports, school, music, politics, fashion, research… and even the college admissions process.

Getting into college is difficult; I believe that getting into any college is something you should be commended for.  As it becomes more difficult gain acceptance to elite schools, more people are applying to more schools, intensifying the competition of the process.

This sets the stage for some intense discussions.  Admissions staff from across the country have to decide just which students they want to take, but trust me, it’s incredibly hard.  They might have to choose between an amazing marathoner and a musician with a  record contract, both of whom have great grades and wonderful SAT scores.  Just because the admissions office can only choose one doesn’t take anything away from the other. 

In my opinion, the competition of the college admissions process often boils down to a crap shoot when they have too many qualified applicants to choose from.  There are no definitive reasons that colleges make the decisions that they make.  Don’t feel bad or get down on yourself for not getting into a school.  Additionally, don’t build your identity based on what schools you have gotten into.

In closing, it’s not about winning or losing; it’s about the experience that you gained along the way.  There is lots of competition in life and you can let it drive you insane or you can use your opportunities to learn.  I’d choose the latter.

Peace,

Tyler

These key points will differ from person to person but at the very least it is a great idea to note which things, both positive and negative, really jumped out at you during your visit.  If you’re feeling extra ambitious you might come up with some categories to fill in about each school, much like the checklist of characteristics I mentioned in my last article.

Other than that, you might note things you want to look up on the school’s website, or other things that you still had questions about after the visit.  Keep in mind, this doesn’t have to be a novel, just some shorthand notes to help you keep track of all of your visits!

1. Practice—make sure to have a good friend or parent ask you some sample questions in an interview format.  This way, you will be prepared for the questions that the interviewer asks and won’t be quite so nervous.  The interviewer has usually looked at some of your application, so they will probably ask you questions about what you put on your apps.

2. Be Courteous—you absolutely want to show up a little bit early to the interview and show the utmost respect throughout the process.  The worst thing you could do is to show up late and waste some of your interviewer’s time.

3. Do Your Homework—you definitely should know some key facts about the school before you go into your interview.  It also helps to have looked at the school’s website a bit.  Sometimes, they’ll ask you about the school and if you know things about it, you will seem more enthusiastic about going there.  Also, if you can get any information about your interviewer, remember that as well.  Sometimes, the interviewers are members of your community and it helps to ask them about their experiences at the school.  Remember, in addition to seeing if you are a good fit, they are trying to convince you to go to the school as well.

4. Wear Nice Clothes—it’s important that you make a good first impression and one of the main components of that is your clothes.  I’d recommend wearing something not quite the level of a prom dress or a tuxedo, but something nice.  For guys, I’d have some slacks, a shirt and tie; for girls, well, I’m not 100% sure, but I’d wear a nice dress.

5. Remember They Are a Person Too—the people that are interviewing you are people that have gone through high school and college.  They have lots of wonderful memories from school (or they probably wouldn’t be doing college interviews).  Don’t be scared of these people, try to have a normal conversation with them.

Good luck with your college interviews.  I remember going through them a little bit nervous, but as they went by, they got progressively easier.  Have a wonderful day!

Peace,

Tyler

I’d like to share a bit about my experience in UCLA campus housing, fondly called the Hill.  Students at UCLA refer to their housing as the Hill because all of the campus housing is located on the same hill on the west side of the campus.  Although I realize that not all campus housing is like the system at UCLA, I’ll share about my experience and how it pertains to campus housing in general.  Here are some great things about the Hill that works and should be things that you look for in your campus housing:

1. Proximity—all of the buildings on the Hill are very close to each other, which creates a friendly, safe atmosphere and accessibility to your friends.  This makes making and meeting up with friends much easier than if housing were spread across campus and I believe makes students happier.  Additionally, most of the UCLA apartments and fraternities are located just across the street from the dorms.

2. Duration—UCLA guarantees campus housing for three years, which is a wonderful option if you choose to partake in it.  Some people aren’t quite ready to move out of the dorms after their first year.  Additionally, there are less responsibilities in the dorms; no cooking or grocery shopping, cleaning is done for you, and crazy landlord contracts.  I believe that having the option to live on campus for at least a couple of years is a nice safety blanket.

3. Food—the UCLA meal plan is based on swipes; you can use a swipe to either get into the dining halls or choose something from a to-go restaurant.  I believe that this system gives you solid options and the food at UCLA is really good for dorm food.

4. Choice—the Hill offers many different living options to live on campus that vary in price, size, and location.  UCLA offers residence halls, which are wide-open hallways with rooms, suites, which connect two rooms with a large open room, and plazas, which are two rooms with an adjoined bathroom.  These options are nice to have while living on campus.

There are some difficulties with UCLA housing—lots of freshmen are put in triples and some of the residence hall rooms are smaller—yet I believe these difficulties are significantly outweighed by the strengths of UCLA housing.  Keep these things in mind while looking at schools, as it is the place that you’ll be living for the next four years (or more)!

Peace,

Tyler

I went into school thinking that I was going to be pre-med for sure.  This all changed pretty quickly and I am now an economics major.  Had I chosen a school based solely on its pre-med qualifications, you can imagine I might have been in a bit of  a predicament.  Instead, though, I chose a school that I loved for all of its qualities, from academics to athletic facilities to policies to overall vibe.

Making a list of qualities you seek in a school can be very helpful.  In that way you can see the schools that appeal to you most overall, rather than just based on one thing.  Not everything should be weighted the same, i.e. quality of dining hall might be ranked lower than quality of academics  Try a point system with different categories having different maximum points based on their importance.

I then thought…why aren’t I asking myself this?  What past experiences, academic and extra curricular have I enjoyed. Why? What am I passionate about? What do I want to do for a career? All of my co-workers had one thing in common—a passion for education. A majority of them have taught in the past—in classrooms and through programs such as Teach For America, and some continue to tutor high schoolers to this day. Their jobs here at Brightstorm suit their interests.

And in two semesters, I’m expected to declare a major. I’m pretty schizophrenic and commitment-phobic about this, having applied as a molecular cell bio major, then switching to double majoring in econ and film studies. Now I’m wondering if I should minor in Nutritional Science instead of Film (all this due to this amazing public health seminar—thank you Zak Sabry!).

Fortunately, my interviews calmed my nervousness about this situation because in reality your major doesn’t have to determine your career. Jeff, the CEO of Brightstorm, is a prime example of that. He was an English major at Stanford, got a teaching degree from Brown, and finally received his MBA from Berkeley’s Haas Business School. And now he heads an Internet start-up e-learning company that specializes in test prep and math help programs. How did that happen?  Throughout our interview, Jeff emphasized that he tried various jobs—working in the backroom at a store and working at a car wash shop in his youth, then working as an English teacher and management consultant later in his career. He loves teaching…and he also loves managing big projects. Instead of compromising, he balanced his passion and skill set, combining his two interests and starting an education-based business.

What Jeff taught me was that your major is a great starting point in your career, but what you should keep in mind is that it isn’t as restrictive as you might think. To find a truly fulfilling career, you should take initiative and use whatever major you declare to your advantage. I’m still on that path and with each opportunity I’m getting one step closer to realizing what I truly want to do. This advice is for you as much as it is for me: experiment with different jobs and take a leap of faith.