Brazil (for Brazilians and everyone else) College Counseling

Brazil (for Brazilians and everyone else) College Counseling
Georgetown University, Washington D.C.

Monday, September 27, 2010

FAFSA- (for US kids) New and Improved and on YouTube

Please click on the link to read the article about the less tedious FAFSA. And taken from the UCLA "FinAid Fundamentals" course--- a YouTube video has been unearthed! A plus for those who hate to read directions! Even though you still have to read them...it is a nice support system option.

"...short video clip developed by the U.S Department of ED. Arne Duncan (Sec. of Education) encourages students to seek out FA info....clip provides great tips for students to start researching the Financial Aid (FA) process."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NQ2UakBwL8

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Podunk Community College- Eww! So not prestigious. Brand name only please.

Oh- stop being a snob and start making a match. Just because you want to go to colleges that you have heard of- doesn't mean that they are the best- or more accurately, that they are the best for you. Listen carefully-my international students- you are not living in the States or Europe- so you have not heard the latest buzz. Ever ask what US NEWS bases their "Top Colleges" on? Is it how much money the university gets? How many kids they deny? How many people have heard of the schools? Should you not consider the credibility and WAY in which ratings are done? I can tell you this- they were not done with your personal needs in mind. For example- you are from the West Coast- you may not have heard of the College of William and Mary- one of the oldest colleges in the US. Probably because that is "East Coast" knowledge and it seems more of a secret society to those who know how competitive it is to get in. Now you know. How many other secrets are out there?

True story: Bob gets into Harvard. Bob goes to Harvard. Bob does average at Harvard. Bob applies for a job. Potential boss asks Bob what he did at Harvard. Bob names a few hobbies, but relies on the fact that he gradated and has a Harvard diploma. Potential boss belives that his evolutionary company needs someone who has gained more skills and not just a diploma. Bob is not hired. Boss finds a person from Community College of Nebraska who revolutionized the corn-husking machine. Potential boss thinks this would be great since it offers a different perspective and also shows skills his company is looking for. Bob moves back in with parents and has no job for a while. Corn guy gets a great job, makes sure employer and clients get new perspective of a "home-grown" kind of guy. Company gets great press for Corn guy's great heart, philosophy, and ability to look past money making and status. Corn guy has made the company a Fortune 500 company.

Fact or Fiction:

University of Oklahoma is just a school where they have cows and tractors.
State Universities like Georgia State are for poor people or people with bad grades.
Hamilton College is a small school and no one goes there.

PLease click on the title for some PERSPECTIVE.

Fortune 500 Scholarships

You know all those super uber-rich companies? They want to help with your education. Check out the link in the title and follow your nose!

Will colleges/bosses REALLY look at my Facebook or Orkut?

"In a 2008 survey of 320 admissions officers from top colleges, the education experts at Kaplan learned that roughly 10% visit social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace to learn more about applicants. Be sure to check out the Kaplan press release. The bottom line: an applicant's web information made a positive impression about 25% of the time and a negative impression 38% of the time. "

Click on title to read more.


"According to a 2009 study by Internet security firm Proofpoint, 8 percent of companies with more than 1,000 employees have fired someone for social media actions -- a figure that is double what was reported in 2008. Yet it probably comes as no surprise that Facebook firings are on the rise. Cases of employers firing employees for social media slip-ups have been consistent in the news over the past few years."

Read full article here:

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2349-Workplace-Issues-12-Ways-to-Get-Fired-for-Facebook/?cbsid=9a50cb3db1d54b359f0f8fc48c5a7535-336693637-RB-4&sc_extcmp=JS_2349_home1&cbRecursionCnt=2&SiteId=cbmsnhp42349&ArticleID=2349>1=23000