Willie B. Adkins
Scholars
STUDENT
PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO
EXPECTATIONS
• ALL ADKINS SCHOLARS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP A PERSONAL PORTFOLIO THAT
WILL GROW AS YOU GROW.
• PORTFOLIOS GIVE A SNAPSHOT OF WHO
YOU ARE AND CAN HELP OPEN DOORS IF
THEY ARE WELL PREPARED.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
• There is no one correct way to write a personal
statement, but in general those who will read your
essay are looking for two important things:
•
HOW the essay provides evidence of your
achievements that isn't reflected in other parts of
your application
• HOW and WHY the events that you describe have
shaped your attitude, focus, and, most of all, your
intellectual vitality.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
STRUCTURE
• A typical two-page personal statement will consist of the
following:
• An introductory paragraph that provides your essay's
controlling theme
• 2-4 body paragraphs that develop your theme through
examples and detailed experiences and build upon each
other. The final body paragraph will contain your most
poignant information
• A conclusion that widens the lens and wraps up your essay
without summarizing or repeating what has already been
written
PERSONAL STATEMENT:
THE WRITING PROCESS
Writing a good college essay requires a significant investment of
personal reflection, thought and time. There are no right or
wrong answers--you are who you are, after all. The best way to
get in touch with who you are through writing is to undertake a
process of self-exploration and writing that will culminate in an
essay that will reveal how unique and interesting you are.
Using all the stages of the writing process will help you to:
•Understand your essay's theme--its controlling idea
•Analyze and reflect upon your experiences as they relate
to your theme
•Craft a polished essay
***DON’T FORGET TO DRAFT & REVISE***
RESUME
• Many colleges ask students to include a resume with
their applications, and even if the college doesn't, it
may be a good idea to include one anyway. This may
be the first resume you will create and most likely
will not have a lot of work experience to include.
•
Fortunately, colleges aren't looking primarily for a
list of jobs--they are looking to see what you have
done. Show off your skills and academic successes
with a great college resume.
RESUME CONTENT
• Sections to Include in a College Application Résumé:
• Heading (includes personal information – name, address,
phone number, & email address)
• Academic Profile (high school and dates attended)
• Summer Programs Attended
• Honors / Awards / AP / IB courses
• SAT/ACT scores / class ranking
• Co-Curricular Activities (school clubs, music, sports, etc.)
• Extracurricular Activities (out-of-school groups)
• Work and Volunteer Experience
• Hobbies / Interests / Travel
• Skills (Language/Computer/etc.)
SAMPLE RESUME
TRANSCRIPTS
• College admission requirements typically include the
transcript, which indicates the courses you've taken
and the grades you've received. Because your
academic work is a key part of the college admission
process, you should certain things in mind when
selecting classes and submitting your transcript.
• All college admission offices require Official
Transcripts. Please see your Counselor and/or
Academic Support Specialist on ordering
transcripts.
EXAM SCORES
• PSAT
(http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/psat/scores)
• SAT (http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-score-choice)
• ACT (http://www.actstudent.org/scores/send/)
• CA EXIT EXAM (CAHSEE) –See Counselor
• Early Assessment Program (EAP)-California
Standards Tests (CSTs) in 11th-grade English and
Mathematics (http://www.ets.org/csu/about/eap)
LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION
• Most undergraduate applications require two or three
letters of recommendation. These letters should come from
former or current teachers, employers, or supervisors who
are familiar with your work and performance.
• WBA requires 3 letters of rec., 2 of which must be from a
current or former teacher/instructor.
Requesting Letters of
Recommendation
• When you seek a letter of recommendation,
remember that you are asking for a favor. Make the
process as convenient as possible for your letter
writer by providing context, direction, and
requesting in advance (2-8 weeks)!
COMMUNITY SERVICE
http://www.dosomething.org/college-survey
HONORS & AWARDS
•
Examples of such awards
might include:
•
National AP Scholar
•
National Merit Semifinalist
•
National History Day Essay
selected at local level and
went to State level
•
Athletics
•
Honor Roll/Academic
Achievement
•
What you should NOT
include are “invitations” to
join various for-profit
“honor” societies such as
“Who’s Who Among
American High School
Students” or the “National
Honor Roll,” If you aren’t
sure if one of your potential
entries falls into this category,
try asking a guidance
counselor
COLLEGE LETTERS &
ACCEPTANCE
• Compilation of letters and/or significant
correspondence from universities addressed directly
to you, such as:
• Acceptance Letters
• Letter of Interest
• Scholarship Awards
• Do not include general information requested from
universities.
CUSTOMIZE
• Covers
• Pictures
• Program Specific (i.e Art Portfolio, Business Samples)
• Color Scheme
• Themes (Sports, Sciences, Special Interest, etc)