I have been telling my students, "Don't let the March lion get you discouraged! The semester is moving right along!" As seniors are deciding on their college destinations and looking for scholarships, juniors are hoping they too can get a start on the college going process. I have had a number of students approach me looking for ways to make themselves rise above the competition and stand out to a college or scholarship selection committee. Students do not want to be cowardly lions, they want to ‘eat up’ the competition. For seniors, building a resume and finding those unique activities late in the semester is a little harder than it is for the underclassmen but its not too late! Students should always be looking for ways to broaden their horizons and be well rounded both academically and in involvement opportunities.
There is no exact list of attributes selection committees for colleges and competitive scholarships look for in students but usually they look at a student's
· Academic Record, GPA, Rigor of Classes
· Test Scores (ACT, SAT)
· Activities and Leadership (Clubs, Sports, Involvement)
· Community Service (In or out of School)
· Work Experience
· Content and Quality of Essays and other application materials
Being a well-rounded student is key to standing out to a selection committee. Students should also remember that quality always supersedes quantity. Showing commitment and the ability to prioritize is important and getting that RAAR! factor across to a committee is easier when you have specific and clear examples of your involvement.
Students may also be given the opportunity to join local and national honor societies. National societies like National Society of Collegiate Scholars or Who’s Who of American High School Students are just some of the organizations who invite students to pay a fee to be in their membership roster. National Honor Society is an example of a local honorary that many high schools have. Member benefits in national and local academic honor societies include:
· Peer networking
· Publications and member-only web content
· Free national events for members and their families
· Dedicated member-services staff and volunteers to assist students
· Member communications
· Service and leadership opportunities
· Unique outreach from top domestic & international universities
· Exclusive scholarship opportunities and academic competitions
· Personalized membership certificate
· Personalized press release for distribution to local media
· Unique offerings through partnerships
The choice to join an honorary sometimes comes down to budget for students. If students opt to pay the membership fee, having their name on an honor list can make them look more appealing to competitive colleges and for scholarships. It is however in my experience that there are so many different ways students can get involved for free and be just as competitive and impressive. It would not hurt a student to join one of these organizations but if they choose not to, there will not be any long term regrets. Being involved, no matter what it is in, is important and most selection committees look for it at many different levels. All students can be the golden lions they want to be if they commit to being active in high school.
For more information on local and national student honor societies:
For more information on resume building, career advice, and involvement:
Let us hope the lions of March become sweet lambs of spring soon!
Cheers!
~Liz Rader
WyCAC Advisor
Evanston High School
erader@uwyo.edu
"The March wind roarsLike a lion in the sky,
And makes us shiver
As he passes by.
When winds are soft,
And the days are warm and clear,
Just like a gentle lamb,
Then spring is here."
- Author Unknown
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