Middle School College Bridge Handbook
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 Middle School
College Bridge Handbook 
Developing Critical Thinkers for a Critical Time www.atlantadebate.org Table of Contents What Should I Be Doing Now?……………………………………….………………………………………….3-4 Setting Goals………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………...5 Ideal Student Profile …………………………………...………………………………………………………….....6 Career Exploration…………………………………..…………………………………………………………….……7 Financial Aid Overview …………………………….……………………………………………………..…..…8-10 Study Habits ………………………………………………………………………………………….................11-12 Online Resources………………………………………………………………………………………………………..13 Summer Exploration………………………………………………………………………………………..…...14-16
Designs and sells thousands of Snap Caps -- colorful bottle caps that can be worn as charms on necklaces, bracelets, and hairpins. Manages 25 employees. Take initiative… Try blogging, Web designs, jewelry making, Production, Baking, freelance writing, etc. I’m only in middle school…what should I be doing now? Try different activities This is the perfect time in your life to discover new interests and talents. Seek out a club at school or look to see what programs your local rec center offers. Also, read and conduct internet research on interests you may not have readily available. Many of these resources are at NO COST. Do not regret missing out on these opportunities. Volunteer Volunteering is a noble and feel good act of kindness for your community. Not only are you helping others, but the process is often reciprocal. You also benefit by meeting new friends and individuals that can help you be successful in the future. Giving back opens opportunities for you. Network Networking is the linking together of individuals who, through trust and relationship building, provide each other connections to career, personal, and social opportunities. Volunteering and joining clubs are a form of this. Networking is present and often vital in every aspect of life. Therefore, get out there, meet people, and be a positive impact in your community because that is how you make opportunities happen! Grades and Classes Good grades are only one criteria of a college application; they do not necessarily reflect how smart you are. They represent your EFFORT in school. Take classes that are not too easy and not too hard. Research shows that students are happier and more successful when they choose classes according to this guideline. Colleges want to see that you are challenging yourself, but not destroying yourself. Start saving Students have many postsecondary choices: two-year colleges, certificate programs, four-year colleges, the military, and employment. Some institutions and programs are more affordable than others. Scholarships are attainable as well. However, it is best to prepare a way to pay your expenses. Debate with Friends Practice debates on relevant issues that your friends will surely have opinions on: Are video games good for you? Do you consider privacy to be a right or privilege? Is it alright to purchase any items you want with your allowance? Is peer pressure beneficial or helpful? Should junk food be banned from schools? Should the school change the hours from 12 pm to 6 pm? And check out these Iphone Debate Apps
Campus Visits Campus visits are one of the best ways to see if a school is a good fit for you. A campus visit is your opportunity to get a firsthand view of a college. It is your chance to ask questions about the school to a college representative, tour guide, or current student. Pick a time when classes are in session. This will allow you to sit in on a lecture or two. If you are interested in a particular student organization, sport, or program, arrange to attend a practice, rehearsal or meeting during your visit.  The College Process Begins With You- Set Goals
This template is designed to help you organize your priorities, establish your life goals, and design a plan for your life. Your life plan considers all of the areas in your life that are important to you. Straying from your plan on a whim becomes a risk that’s quantifiable, so having a plan in place provides a means to calculate risk and manage impulsiveness. Establish Your Goals Think about where you want to be in that area of your life in the next one to two years, the next five years, and ultimately, at the end of your life.
Develop Your Action Plan What gets planned – gets done! Without specific steps and dates, all you have is a wish list - not a plan. Writing in the details of the plan is essential to your success. This is where you set in place the action steps and deadlines to get you where you want to be and help you accomplish your goals. Consider using the SMART model: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and within a specific Timeframe. GOALS ACTION STEPS DEADLINES
The Ideal Student Profile What do colleges want from you?
Students should demonstrate a willingness to challenge themselves with a rigorous program of studies. Academically successful students should have several honors, I.B., and/ or advanced placement classes if available at their high school.
Grades should show an upward trend over the years. However, slightly lower grades in a rigorous program are preferred to all A’s in less challenging coursework.
Depth, not breath, of experience is most important. It is better to have a sustained presence and leadership role in one organization than to have a spotty presence in six organizations.
These should be consistent with your high school performance. You should practice taking theses exams early to ensure the best score possible.
These are things that make a student unique and that adds to the diversity of the campus. These can stem from your upbringing and other life experiences. If you are worried that you don’t fit the ideal student profile, that’s okay! It’s never too late to start. Meet with the school counselor, a teacher, or an AUDL staff member for guidance. Everyone deserves to go to college.
About every ten years or so there is a recession. If you are one to be concerned with job stability and security, you might want to check out some of these recession proof fields and jobs. Public Relations Specialist Nursing Medical Field Information Systems MGMT Engineering Green Jobs Software Engineering Note: Government based jobs are generally known for their job security. However, lack of tax income can often negatively influence the amount of positions available. Teacher Police Officer Social Worker There are so many surveys and fun assessments to take to learn more about your career interest. The findings might surprise you! Visit this site to learn more: https://secure.gacollege411.org/Career_Planning/Learn_About_Yourself/Learn_About_Yourself.aspx Shadow You don’t have to wait until college to discover if you even like your future career. A great way to sample careers is to “shadow.” This entails following alongside a worker in the field you are exploring for a day. This way, you get to see if you can actually see yourself in this position. For example, if you are not sure you have the stomach to handle blood, shadow at a hospital. If you are not sure about working indoors every day, shadow somebody at an office. Talk to your School Counselor Guidance counselors are fabulous at connecting one’s interests to a future career. By speaking to him or her, you may get an idea of what classes you can take in high school and what you can do now to get experience. They might even have tips on where to get jobs related to what you want to learn more of Financial Aid- Overview What is financial aid? Financial aid is intended to make up the difference between what your family can afford to pay on your behalf and the cost of attending a particular university. Over half of the students currently enrolled in college receive financial aid to help pay college costs. Financial aid is money from federal, state and private institutions that is used to pay educational costs. There are several categories of financial aid, and specific types of aid within each of those categories. These categories are:
People are usually familiar with the first three sources of aid. But they sometimes overlook the money available from community sources. Millions of dollars in outside scholarships go unclaimed because students haven't applied for them. Planning to debate in college? Most universities with debate teams offer full and partial debate scholarships, covering anything from part of the tuition costs to all university expenses. Check out the following link to learn more about specific university debate program and scholarships. www.wcdebate.com/7others/list-of-policy-colleges.htm Types of Financial Aid Grants- also referred to as gift aid. Grants do not have to be repaid. Grants come from federal and state governments and from individual colleges. Sometimes they are awarded on the basis of need and sometimes they are awarded on the basis of merit; it depends on the specific grant. Scholarships- Scholarships are usually awarded on the basis of merit and do not have to be repaid. There are tons of different scholarships. For example, you can find athletic, academic, debate, disability, and ethnic scholarships. Use the attached list of college resources to find out more about scholarships. Merit-based scholarships- are awarded to students with a particular skill, achievement, talent or characteristic. Most scholarships require separate applications, often with written essays and referrals. Loans- Loans are a type of financial aid that must be repaid after the student finishes their education. Loans will be deferred if the student chooses to pursue graduate studies. Most loans are awarded based on financial need and are low-interest and sponsored by the federal government. Some loans are even subsidized by the government so that no interest accrues until the student begins repayment after graduation. Off campus employment and work-study- Student employment and work-study aid helps students pay for education costs such as books, supplies, meal plans, and personal expenses. Work-study is a federal program that provides students with part-time employment to help meet their financial needs and give them work experience while serving their campuses and surrounding communities. Types of Scholarships A common misconception about scholarships is that they are only available for the smartest students with the highest GPAs. However, this just isn’t even close to true. There are scholarships out there for every type of student seeking a college education. Academic Scholarships Academic scholarships are also often referred to as merit scholarships; though a merit scholarship can mean anything that has some level of contest to it. These are for the students with the 4.0 GPAs, years of several extracurricular activities and the well-rounded applications. They typically have the highest payouts and are considered very prestigious as they are often national awards. Average Academic Performance Scholarships Even if your grades aren’t the best, there are plenty of scholarships meant for you as well. Average student scholarships do take academics into consideration, but focus on other factors as well, such as community service, leadership, the strength of your essay, etc. Athletic Scholarships For students with strong academics and physical skills, athletic scholarships are the way to go. There is practically a scholarship for every single sport, from volleyball to football; gymnastics to cheerleading. So, if you excel in anything physical, you should definitely pursue an athletic scholarship. Scholarships for Minorities There are also many scholarships for minorities available. Some of these are general and for all minorities as a collective whole, while others are catered to individual ethnic groups. It is also a good idea to apply for a minority scholarship if you are part or full of a certain ethnicity. You will get to represent your culture and possibly receive money. Scholarships for Women As with the scholarships for minorities above, there are also scholarships specifically for women. Since colleges were dominated by men for many years, scholarships have been created for strong, career-minded women that need assistance paying for college expenses. If you are female, it is strongly recommended you pursue a scholarship for women. Moreover, scholarships for women are typically available in just about any field. Creative Scholarships For those artistic at heart, there are creative scholarships available to help you pursue your passion. Art scholarships, music scholarships and even dance scholarships usually involve an audition of some sort and can help you get through art school or an art program at a university. Regardless of your creative field, you can rest assured that there is a scholarship out there just for you. However, it is your job to find it and to apply! Unusual Scholarships Unusual scholarships are a lot of fun and a great way to be creative and get some cash while you’re at it. They are typically sponsored by private companies and are meant to be fun. For instance, there is a scholarship available for left-handed students. There is another one for who can create the best prom dress out of duct tape. Even though there aren’t very many of these off-beat scholarships each year, there are enough to attract significant attention from potential applicants, schools, and even the media. Because of this, they may be a bit competitive. However, if you have a killer idea, go for it! Community Service Scholarships Community service scholarships are fantastic for those that love to give to others and give back to their communities. If you already perform a lot of community service, then a scholarship in this vein may be perfect for you. There is also the Federal Work Study program, which awards a percentage of their funding to students performing community service activities. It may be a viable option for you if you were planning on using work-study as a means of paying for college anyway.  Study Habits Page
1. Write Down Every Assignment It sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But we all are getting busier by the day and you will absolutely need to be in the habit of writing down tasks, requests, deadlines no matter what career you have. If a planner doesn’t work for you, try your cell phone or a to-do list. 2. Remember to Bring Your Homework to School It sounds simple enough, but many F's come from students forgetting to bring a perfectly good paper to school with them. To avoid forgetting your homework, you must establish a strong homework routine with a special homework station where you work each night. 3. Communicate With Your Teacher Every successful relationship is built upon clear communication. Miscommunication is another one of those factors that can cause bad grades, despite good efforts on your part. Imagine getting a bad grade on a 5-page paper because you didn't understand the difference between an expository essay and a personal essay. Also, communicating with your teacher will show him or her that you respect their class and give your best effort. Sometimes that is the difference between an A and an A+. 4. Establish a Study Zone at Home Students are different. Some need a completely quiet room free from interruptions when they study, but others actually study better listening to quiet music in the background or taking several breaks. Find a place to study that fits your specific personality and learning style. Then stock your study space with school supplies that will help you avoid last-minute emergencies. 5. Know Your Dominant Learning Style Many students will struggle in a subject without understanding why. Sometimes this is because students don't understand how to study in a way that matches their brain style. Auditory learners are those who learn best through hearing things. Visual learners retain more information when they use visual aids. Tactile learners benefit by doing hands-on projects. 
6. Conquer Procrastination When you put things off a lot, you end up putting things off until it's too late. So how can you battle the urge to put things off? Time yourself, do a little work for a project every day, go to the library, ask your family to be supportive and not enabling, and reward yourself after you conquer your task. 7. Take Care of Yourself Some of your personal habits might be affecting your grades. Are you feeling tired, achy, or bored when it comes to homework time? You can change your grades by practicing a few healthy homework habits. Change the way you feel by taking better care of your mind and your body. For example, text messaging, Sony PlayStations, Xbox, Internet surfing, and computer writing require students to use their hand muscles in all new ways, and they're growing increasingly susceptible to the hazards of repetitive stress injury. Find out how to avoid pain in your hands and neck by changing the way you sit at your computer.
Visit this site for information about specific universities and their debate squad and debate scholarship opportunities. This site is a great resource for students wanting to continue their debate careers. Degreed Up (http://degreedup.com) Any student that attends a university, community college or technical college may apply. A student must be accepted or attending the college in order to apply for the scholarship. Summer Exploration Emory National Debate Institute (ENDI) This 2, 4, and 6 week program enables students, nationally and internationally, to enhance their debate skills and experience in this intensive camp. With a strong focus on research, analysis, and practice rounds, students compete in a conclusive end of summer tournament which is a wonderful time to celebrate the tremendous academic and personal growth made over the summer. Below is a list of summer debate workshops, camps, and programs. Attending these is a great way to meet students and educators from all around the world, learn more about your potential in debate, and use this as a learning experience you can reference when applying to college. 
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Atlanta Urban Debate Institute (AUDI) Students from all over metro Atlanta come together for this week long program, held at Georgia State University. With Emory, GSU, and other debate instructors from all over the country, debate students were trained in debate theory, research techniques, topic specific instruction, and practice debates. Students were also treated to lectures and college bridge activities. The Atlanta Urban Debate League facilitates and aims to cultivate strength in debate as well as future academic endeavors. t t 
ENDI Middle School Debate Camp This 2-week workshop caters to middle school debaters throughout metro Atlanta. Successful and experienced debaters from around metro-Atlanta make this program a memorable experience for everyone, including first- time debaters! This program concludes with a great one-day tournament; including awards and acknowledgement granted to the more than 40 participants of the camp. Directory: wp-content -> uploads -> 2013 2013 -> International post doctoral research fellowship programme final report title of the research 2013 -> Seals Family History 1565 to 2004 2013 -> Rao bulletin 15 July 2013 html edition this bulletin contains the following articles 2013 -> R institute of technology school of foreign languages 2013 -> Provisional Programme – subject to change thursday 10th april 2013 -> June, 2013 National hiv testing Day Month Men’s Health Week Hurricane Safety Month 2013 -> In memory of the residents of the Parish Chesham Bois that served their country during wwii 2013 -> Federal contract awards in georgia april 2013 Download 60.4 Kb. Share with your friends:
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