sample admission essay

One of the Ivy League universities offering a sense of tradition and excellence on a golden collegiate plate is Princeton University . Formerly known as the College of New Jersey, the university was renamed Princeton University in 1896 following its move to the town where it stood since 1756. Co-ed, private, and catering to scions of old-rich families, Princeton University retains its old-world charm while being one of the leading research facilities in the world today. Although a pair of lions used to guard the entrance to Nassau Hall, the oldest building in the university, the tiger has been adapted as Princeton University’s official mascot, owing to its orange and black stripes that are the university’s official colors.

With assets of over a billion dollars largely due to its funding by large private industries for their own R&D, Princeton University is among the wealthiest universities in the world. Princeton University offers a whole gamut of fields of specialization, arming the undergraduate with the proper knowledge, excellent tutelage from faculty who are each respected professionals in their fields of study, and hands-on experience with the various private institutions that they have partnered with. Such profitable alliances have made it possible for Princeton to transform the Firestone Library into a veritable storehouse of knowledge. The Princeton University Library system was even able to digitally scan great literary pieces for usage on the web.

Course offerings differ for BA and BSE students. BA students in Princeton University get to choose their majors at the end of their sophomore year, while BSE students get to choose at the end of their first year.

Student life is peachy in Princeton University. Housing is guaranteed for all students in their four years of stay though they have the option to live off campus once they reach junior status. Greek-letter associations are not recognized by Princeton University, so it is common for students to find friends and food among a number of exclusive eating clubs on campus that almost work the same way as fraternities. Despite years of squabble over the elitist nature of such clubs, things are being resolved as students can dine in neutral common halls.

How to get into Princeton University

If you are one of the moths attracted to the orange and black flame that is Princeton University, here are a few things that Princeton University requires from its applicants:

Applicants are expected to have studied four years of English, Mathematics and of a single foreign language, while two years are required for laboratory science and history. Two admissions essays are required by Princeton University Admissions Officers for review. These essays would be the perfect venue for you to introduce yourself and air out why you would be deserving of a Princeton education. As with other collegiate entrance exams, Princeton University requires the submission of the results of the ACT and three other SAT exams.

Because Princeton University also offers courses on music and the arts, portfolios and other relative materials can be submitted.  For foreign students , an International Secondary School Report form should be used in submitting your scholastic records to Princeton University.

Applications for admission to Princeton University can be sent via mail or online .

Photo Credits: PixCulture

The California Institute of Technology can direct you to the right path if you’re looking for a road paved for greatness in the fields of science, technology, and engineering.  Founded in 1891 by local businessman Amos Throop, Caltech had a variety of names such as Throop University, Throop Polytechnic Institute, and Throop College of Technology before it finally settled for its present name in 1921. This school, though largely underpopulated as compared to its direct rival MIT, is considered as one of the best universities in the world as it has many Nobel Prize winners among other distinctions. Caltech also boasts of alumni who have made milestones in science – from the discovery of anti-matter to space and aeronautical laboratories that NASA has employed for the monitoring of their robotic satellites.

Student life in Caltech isn’t that hectic and crowded as there are only approximately over two thousand students enrolled for the current academic year. This can be a good thing as equipment and facilities ratio at Caltech isk ept at a tolerable balance, enabling each student to fully utilize these facilities for his or her own means. Housing is well-provided for, with 8 major houses within Caltech catering to only a couple of thousand of students. These houses are not only for the board and lodging of Caltech students during their stay in college but are also their venues for developing social interactions and ties that grow stronger throughout the years and even beyond Caltech. The school’s location in Pasadena, California provides its students a chance for an occasional break from academics and to pursue other interests.

Although the size of the student body in Caltech may seem suitable for individual assignments, “techers,” as Caltech students are fondly called, never work alone. They are encouraged and trained to do group work in almost every assignment or research project that they undertake at Caltech, building up the team spirit that has been an invaluable component in many breakthroughs in science and technology throughout the years.

Frosh techers, the term applied to freshmen, can only choose their options for majors at the end of their first year. Caltech offers courses grouped into six main classes: (1) Division of Biology, (2) Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, (3) Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, (4) Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, (5) Division of Humanity and Social Sciences, and (6) Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy. A special category named Independent Studies may help some techers who want to sample different fields from the various course offerings.

The typical brainy guy from senior high may be the best candidate for a slot in Caltech, but it’s much more than the grades that Caltech admissions people and undergraduate techers who are part of the selection committee look at. Caltech requires that applicants have at least four years of schooling in math and calculus, three years in English, and one year each in history, chemistry, and physics. Caltech admissions look for your math and other analytical problem-solving scores in the ACT and SAT tests that you have submitted. Extra-curricular activities of applicants also show how they can display the same amount of zeal and effort as they do for their academic activities. Lastly, recommendations made by your high school teachers are also required measures for eligibility. If you do require a scholarship to help support your education, Caltech also offers financial assistance for deserving applicants.

Photo Credits:  Velo Steve

Getting into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Counting Cards and Much Much More

A movie focusing on card-counting student geniuses from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has put a spotlight on one of the revered academic institutions in the US. This wasn’t just based on fiction, as MIT really did have a blackjack team that were high-rollers not only in the academe, but in Vegas as well, proof that MIT isn’t just for robotics or other geeky stuff.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology houses five schools grouped under Architecture and Planning, Engineering, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Engineering and Management and one collegiate institution for Health Sciences and Technology , a joint project with one of its partner schools in medicine Harvard Medical School . MIT is a private, co-educational, and research-generating university established under William Barton Rogers in 1865 with the aim to amalgamate research with application in order to answer the needs of a country that was then rapidly becoming more industrialized. MIT lives up to its mission of enriching through research that even the courses geared toward more creative pursuits are tackled with analytical approaches.

Currently, MIT  has 10,220 students enrolled , 4,172 of which are freshmen. MIT also has quite an international community of students from foreign countries, and the larger percentage of this group are taking their post-graduate degrees. Student housing is offered to students as single freshmen are required to live within campus in MIT’s residence halls or in any of the Greek-letter houses after their fist year. Extracurricular activities in the arts and athletics also abound in MIT, proving that students can be well-rounded even in a place as concentrated on technological advancements as MIT is. The infamous MIT Hacks are proof that pulling pranks are also one of the “majors” in this university, albeit for comic purposes only. Imagine being able to demonstrate your prowess in physics and engineering while pulling off the most spectacular prank of the year in front of a stadium full of people.

Getting into MIT requires the usual smarts in which its admission committee measures your abilities to see if you truly deserve to get in. The following are just a few pointers to give a heads up on the requirements.

Early Action applicants must submit biological information and all the required paperwork before November 1 or not later than January 1 for Regular Action applicants.

Along with the preferred field of study, a 500-word essay is also required by MIT.  Key tip: sustain the attention of the admissions people reading your essay is to keep it light and interesting
Personal interviews can be gone through. Though not required, it can up your chances a bit if you get to please the admissions people once they find what they’re looking for in a candidate.
Standard exams given to all applicants are also used to gauge their capacity to get into MIT.
Evaluations or recommendation from two secondary school teachers are also required.
Musical and artistic portfolios are also encouraged, and these could be additional factors for your evaluation.

MIT has been in the forefront of producing various breakthroughs in scientific and industrial circles, as well as harmless but memorable shenanigans. If you think you have what it takes and if you can be more than what is expected, then MIT is opening its doors for you.

Photo Credits:  TJeerd

Scholarly journals are a valuable source of information for school papers and projects. But not all of them are free—some require expensive subscriptions, while others are exclusive to society members. If you’re a student, here are ten sites that give you free access to academic journals.

Penn Library Electronic Journals

Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania , this service combines free electronic scholarly journals with subscription-based ones. Some of the journals are exclusive to Penn students, but it’s a good way to see which titles you can freely access elsewhere. The listings can be a bit erratic, though—some subscription-based materials have been listed as free and vice versa.

Florida Atlantic University Libraries

The FAU library lists over 80 journal titles across several fields of study. The journals are free for all, including non-students, and classified according to subject. The list can be accessed on and off campus. Students and faculty can access additional subscription-based titles, but the free titles offer a broad enough scope for students.

University of Iowa Library

The main advantage of this source is its search function, which lets you look up journals or individual articles. The titles are classified several ways, so you can search by article title, journal name, subject matter, or even date of publication. Searching by subject also draws up a list of subcategories, which can come in handy when you’re not looking for a specific title.

University of California, Santa Barbara Library

Here you’ll find a list of websites and universities that offer free access to scholarly journals, as well as the school’s own collection. It’s actually part of an academic project rather than an official directory, so resources are limited; topics covered include engineering, biological sciences, mathematics, medicine, and physical science.

Stanford University HighWire Press

Stanford hosts the world’s largest database of free science articles. HighWire Press offers free full-text versions of journal articles, which can be searched in any number of ways: by author, date, subject, page number, volume, and even in-text quotes. There’s also a comprehensive list of journal titles and links to free sites.

University of Nevada, Reno Libraries

This one offers a long, detailed list of free electronic journals on just about any subject, with literally hundreds of titles. It’s not searchable, but you can jump to subject lists so it’s not that tedious. The titles come with publication dates and publisher names, and are linked to the journal’s official site or volume archive.

Fetch Database of Free E-journals

This is a search-based listing of electronic titles hosted by the Manhattan College Libraries . Over 11,000 journals are on the database, although some only offer some parts free. They don’t include journals that offer exclusive full-text content to subscribers, and most of the non-English journals have been translated with the AltaVista Babelfish service.

Seton Hall University Libraries

The Seton Hall Libraries boast a massive collection of academic journals across several fields of study. You can search full-text electronic materials from the database, or if you have access to the library itself, look up titles in paper, microform, and other formats. The list is fully searchable and includes links to the journal site when applicable.

Education Resources Information Center

A project of the U.S. Department of Education , ERIC provides free full-text materials and citations of education literature. It is by far the largest collection, with over records exceeding 1.2 million. They are currently in the process of digitizing around 340,000 microfiche documents, so expect the database to grow in the coming years.

AERA SIG Communication of Research

This project is provided by the Arizona State University in support of the Budapest Open Access Initiative. The list is not very extensive, but it’s very selective: they’ve excluded all sites that charge even a minimum for any content, and include only peer-reviewed, refereed and full-text titles. American journals make up majority of the list, but there are also titles from Australia, Europe and Asia.

Photo Credits:  johoweaa

HOW TO BECOME AN EFFECTIVE DISCUSSION LEADER IN YOUR COLLEGE CLASSES

The break finally comes to an end, and the semester opens to a fresh period of learning. Whether you are the teacher or the student, you understand the value of  first impressions and expectation setting. In the academe, open communication lines and dynamic information exchange are the main ingredients in a successful learning experience. So, the greatest challenge you face on the first day is how to start the ball rolling–and keeping it that way! This article provides you some simple yet creative tips that will assure you of many productive discussion sessions ahead.

Get creative!

Experts on adult learning cite the importance of remembering names on the first day. Perhaps, the mere thought of doing so makes you groan right now, as we know that most adult learners dislike having to memorize. But then again, the childlike and competitive among us always like games, don’t we? Why don’t you use ice-breaking activities, such as having students or classmates introduce themselves by using adjectives that begin with the letter of their first names (i.e., Resilient Rachelle)? Or why not try having them answer questions like “If you were a movie, what movie would you be?” That’s just to get people to warm up a bit. It is the first day of school, after all.

Be motivating

Just as writers need to be inspired in order to write at their best, students also need a stimulating classroom environment to help them perform well in discussions. If a member of the class feels as if he or she is being put on the Hot Seat everytime you ask him or her a question, then that will make other members of the class very reluctant to speak out. Be an encourager; foster an environment that allows the class to think and speak freely without fear of retaliation.

Establish a relationship with the class. Like in any organization, the success of the class comes from knowing that the element of trust is present. Trust may be manifested at 3 different levels: trust in their character, trust in their competencies, and trust in communication.

Exchange roles and practice empathy

Perhaps, the only aspect of the organizational structure from which the classroom is unique is the flexibility of roles and the freedom to exchange these roles. In an office,  you cannot go to work one day and say, “I think I’m going to be the boss today.” (Although I’m quite sure that some of us would want to have our bosses take instructions from us from time to time). In contrast, the classroom allows the teacher and the student to switch places whenever it is appropriate. In fact, this role play is not only allowed but encouraged for many good reasons: to facilitate the exchange of ideas, to limit the monopoly of talk-time, and sometimes, to allow the teacher  some rest and relaxation.

Put these tips to use, and you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to keep the ball rolling after all. You and your class will not be disappointed.

Even if you studied hard, managed to obtain excellent remarks on your report card and received great recommendations from several important people, the amount of work you need to toil when entering medical school does not stop the moment you get accepted. For some, that’s merely scratching the surface: the competition, long hours of studying and, not to mention, the rigorous training that comes with the responsibility of having another person’s life in your hands. Getting into medical school is easy; it’s surviving that poses a major challenge.

Although there are some books that give great advice on how to survive medical school, fortunately, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out how to do it. With practical tips on what you will expect upon entering a medical school and how to thrive and do well in it, you will develop the skills you need to survive medical school.

What to Expect in Medical School

As a medical student, you are required to perform related activities, including laboratory work and sitting through long lectures. Most, if not all, nights are spent studying. You should know that long hours are necessary in the study of medicine and missing or cramming during exams will not be productive. The seemingly endless amounts of information needed to be memorized are reason enough for you to dedicate yourself to reviewing and recollecting lessons. Fortunately, if you do fall behind your classes, there are several medical schools that are generous enough to offer their students with transcribed lectures.

Upon entering medical school, you should realize that it is not a place to sit back and have fun with – it will not be easy. Hence, students who have the capability to dedicate their lives to medical school, and have the diligence and persistence to maintain good grades are remarkably successful. Remember to be competitive, as the more competitive students are also likely to survive medical school.

Additionally, thorough knowledge of the basic sciences is expected during the first and second year of medical school. Although the curricula may vary depending on the institution, some of those included for freshman year are Gross Anatomy, Biochemistry, Human Embryology, Physiology and Physical Diagnosis, among others. As for the second year, Clinical Correlation, Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology and Advance Physical Diagnosis, among others, are covered. You need to not only be interested, but, actually, love these subjects to be able to take them both to mind and heart.

How to Do Well in Medical School

Although it is the nature of a medical school environment to be rather tense and competitive, it would not be sufficient to say that students are well acquainted with mental skirmishes. Remembering that there should be a healthy balance between competition and amity among students can help you create and live in a great learning and living environment.

Keep in mind that there is a major difference between doing your best and trying to do better than others. Although there is nothing wrong with setting and achieving a higher standard than your classmates, such feelings would only often lead to stress and anxiety, which you cannot afford to have in medical school.

Seek Assistance

Doing well in medical school not only entails a competitive and goal-centric attitude but also the understanding that there are some subjects that you might not be able to comprehend in a snap. If so, always remember to ask for help from your co-students and professors; but remember to do it with courtesy. First, determine the manner of contact, which may be indicated in the syllabus, since some professors include the methods of approach they prefer. Second, be familiar with their schedule; always check their office hours, as well as their policies. Lastly, the method of asking is also important. This is the only way from which you can learn the preferences of your professor. Remember to keep your query short and direct.

As for peer assistance, most institutions cater to study groups and even organizations that focus on the mental and emotional wellness of medical students. Seek them out. Surviving medical school is a tough job, and while retaining all that information relies solely on your determination and hard work, it would help to know that you have people like you whom you can count on for support.

Photo Credits:  Salim Fadhley

Getting high grades during college is a task that requires plenty of perseverance, determination, and good old study habits. However, other factors may make this a difficult task. As a result, the chances of getting into law school , medical school , an MBA program , or graduate school are lessened. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways for students to deal with failed grades so as to be able to apply for law, medical, or graduate schools. These methods include a formal grade appeal and a mediative approach to grade appeal.

Formal Grade Appeal

Students can always appeal to their professors regarding failing grades. However, it’s important to keep in mind that due process should be observed by both the student and the professor regarding these matters. The professor should be approached and the explanations on why a failing grade was given should be discussed clearly. The point of each side should be heard by the other party in order to create a fair decision. If the decision of a professor regarding a failing grade was mainly based on personal opinion, a formal grade appeal should be made.

The next step to consider if the dispute is not resolved is to approach the appropriate department chairman or dean regarding the grade appeal. A departmental committee or appeals panel comprised of students and faculty members will then study the facts and evidences that will help resolve the grade dispute.

Mediative Approach

Another appeal to deal with failing grades in college is through mediation. In this method, a student may approach a mediator from the school if the dispute is not resolved after approaching the professor. The mediator tries to clear issues and listens attentively to both sides. One goal of a mediator is to let each party see the other side of things. Although a mediator can never influence a professor to change a decision, it tries to solve the grade dispute by explaining carefully to each side the points of an argument.

Photo Credits:  Brendan.Wood

HISTORY OF UC BERKELEY

The University of California at Berkeley has one of the richest histories among the United State’s premier educational institutions. It began as a merger between two universities in the mid-1800′s: the College of California and the Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College. The College of California was a private institution, whose curriculum was structured in the mold of Yale and Harvard with the added focus on modern languages. The Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College, on the other hand, was a public institution that focused on agriculture, livelihood, military studies, mechanical arts, and to a lesser but equally essential extent science and engineering. While the College of California suffered financial troubles, the  Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College received sufficient public funding, but possessed no land on which to build its institution. Each possessing the solution to the other school’s problem, the two universities merged together and created the University of California, situating itself on the land the former College of California owned. This merger created a highly well-rounded and dynamic educational body that boasted of many fields of study. On March 23, 1868, the Organic Act was signed, thus finally creating the University of California.

In1899, the university began to receive renown. Then President Benjamin Ide Wheeler managed the school’s finances well and recruited the top minds in the university’s fields of study, thereby placing his university at the threshold of the top education institutions of his time. Since 1930, this drive for academic excellence through the recruitment of promising professorial talent persisted and has attained huge academic capital for the school, not to mention a reputation as a leading research facility.

Famous Alumni

The university’s excellent academic reputation made success for both its educators and alumni highly possible, if not inevitable. Berkley’s physicists were the team leaders in the Manhattan Project, which led to the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II and the eventual production of the hydrogen bomb. The University of California, Berkeley also oversees the nation’s two primary nuclear weapons laboratories. True to its origin of fusion and dynamism, the university has garnered achievements in not just one field of study. Other than its research exploits, the University of California has received numerous awards for intellectual studies and works of art. Its alumni boasts of great scientists, such as Steven Chu (PhD, ’76) and John C. Mather (B.S., ’74); successful businessmen, like Steve Wozniak (B.S., ’86) of Apple Computer and Gordon Moore (B.S., ’50) of Intel; Nobel prize winners Thomas Schelling (BA, ’44) and Hamilton O. Smith (BA, ’52); and even popular culture icons, such as Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, actor Gregory Peck, and Third Eye Blind lead singer Stephan Jenkins.

What makes UC Berkeley prestigious?

There is no doubt that the University of California is a prestigious research institution. It is nationally ranked at number one in terms of the number of graduate programs considered to be in the top ten in their fields. Twenty four Nobel Prizes have been awarded to its alumni in various fields, such as Physiology/Medicine, Chemistry, Physics, and Economics. There have also been 4 Pulitzer Prizes won by alumni of the university. It is also considered the number one public university in the nation. As an institution, the University of California has won its accolades and cannot be discounted as one of the premier colleges of the nation.

Why people apply to this school?

The more than evident success of both the school and its alumni are clear indicators of the reason why applicants to the school reach tens of thousands every year. The numerous specializations and fields of study also assure applicants of the diversity of education in the university.

How to apply

Visiting the UCB application site to view the detailed application process for the various University of California campuses. Each application costs $60. Applicants can apply to more than one campus.

There are two ways to become eligible to apply to the University of California:

1. For state-wide eligibility, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

a) two years of education in History/Social Science
b) four years of English
c) three to four years of Math
d) two to three years of Lab Science
e) two to three years of study of a language other than English
f) one year of Visual and Performing Arts
g) one year of college preparatory electives

2) Local eligibility can be given to students, whose GPA (based on the required coursework) in a Californian high school are in the top 4 percent. These students will be informed of their eligibility by their respective school administrators during their fourth year.

To apply, simply fill out an on line application found at the following site:http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply_to_uc.html . Applicants can also print out a form from the same site to have a hard copy application. An application form can also be mailed to applicants by request. This can be done by emailing the request to the following address:ucinfo@ucapplication.net.

All freshmen applicants must also take two SAT subject tests and the ACT Assessment plus Writing or SAT Reasoning Test for that year. Instruct the testing agencies to forward the test scores to the University of California.

Information

For additional questions, applicants may call (510)642-5215, go to the university’s website http://berkeley.edu , or visit the campus at 1950 Carleton Street, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Photo credits:  TiseB

The University of Texas At Austin is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States that is well-known for their research programs. Established in 1883, this academic institution has a record for having the largest enrollment in the whole state of Texas, and the fifth largest single enrollment of students in the whole United States as of fall 2006, with an estimate campus population of 50, 000 undergraduate students and 16, 500 faculty and staff. University of Texas, UT, Texas, or the University of Texas are just some of the most common nicknames of this University. Their university of motto is “Disciplina praesidium civitatis”, which means “Cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy” when translated to English.

History of the University of Texas at Austin

In 1836, Texas obtained its independence from Mexico. It was also this same year when the state enacted the Constitution of the Republic. This constitution brought Texas a provision to found a system of public education, which will include the establishment of two colleges or universities. Texas became became an official state in 1876, and it was the Texas Constitution of 1876 that called for the creation of a first-class university. A total of three million acres of land were given in the area of West Texas, and Austin was the place that was finally chosen to be  the site of the university that we will soon know as the University of Texas at Austin. After years of building, the whole university finally opened its doors to the public on September 15, 1883.

University of Texas at Austin’s Famous Alumni

The University of Texas at Austin has produced great and notable leaders in the field of government and politics, arts and sciences, entertainment, and so much more. Among them are Michael Dell, the CEO and founder of Dell Inc. that manufactures computers; Former First lady of the White House Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of the late US president Lyndon B. Johnson; the current First Lady of the White House, Laura Bush; Vince Young, a world famous and award-winning American football player, and Jeb Bush, a famous US politician, brother of current US president George W. Bush, and was also the 43rd governor of the state of Florida.

What Makes University of Texas at Austin Prestigious

In terms of university rankings, the University of Texas at Austin has been consistently garnering high rankings. This year’s edition of the US News and World Report showed this university notching the 44th spot as one of the best universities of the nation, and 12th when compared among public universities. In terms of international rankings, it placed 15th worldwide in the 2004 release of the Times Higher Education Supplement Survey. Its colleges are also well-renowned, most especially the McCombs School of Business that achieved 1st place in terms of rankings of the best undergraduate and graduate accounting degree programs of the nation. Its admission process is also very selective, admitting only 13,781 students out of 27, 732 application that was received as of fall 2007.

Why People Apply to the University of Texas at Austin

Prospective students totally consider University of Texas at Austin as one of their top university choices to apply for, because it is one of the original members of the eight “Public Ivy” educational institutions that is known for providing an academic experience that’s almost the same as of those Ivy League schools, but with an enrollment price that’s almost the same as a public school. Students who foresee a great future on research definitely consider applying at the University of Texas at Austin because the university exceeds its $446 million worth of annual research funds. Apart from that, this university offers a lot of scholarships for prospective applicants that are financially needy, thus, providing equal opportunities for students all over the world to be admitted regardless of their financial status in life. Its school spirit and student life on campus are also very alive and well-balanced, and it’s because of over a thousand university-recognized academic and athletic organizations that a student can join once admitted.

How to Apply to the University of Texas at Austin

There are several processes on how to apply at the University of Texas at Austin. Depending on your student classification (e.g., freshman, transferee, graduate, etc.), a student is expected the follow an admission process that will determine one’s fitness and suitability to be accepted and survive the university’s academic and social environment. Generally, all applicants from all over the world must complete an online application form, submit high school or any other accredited academic-related transcripts, two admission essays, official standardized test scores, and other additional requirements if deemed appropriate. Applicants must also pay a non-refundable fee of $60 ($70 for international applicants) for the processing of their applications.

Important Information about the University of Texas at Austin

Most of the important information about the school are already found in their website . This website already contains the links that will guide the public about the degree programs being offered, the admission requirements and process, and so much more

Photo Credit:  KyleF81

Not all of us are fast readers, so reading for a term paper is a challenge for many college students. Even if you genuinely want to read the book, sometimes you just can’t finish in time to actually write your paper and beat the deadline. Of course, if you’re lucky, you’ll be saddled with only one paper at a time—but what if you have more than one? If you often find yourself in these situations, here are some quick fixes that might save the day.

Read study guides . Literature study guides practically do all the work for you, down to per-chapter analysis. Usually, they’ll start with a summary of the material and study each part separately, with an overall review or conclusion at the end. Cliffsnotes and Sparknotes are two of the most popular sources in the U.S.; try looking for York Notes for obscure British titles. Many schools consider this cheating, so make sure you don’t get caught—write in your own voice and try not to sound too scholarly or academic.  Write in your own words.

Skim and scan through the book . You may not have time for the whole book, but try to take at least ten minutes to skim through the chapters. Try to identify the key characters so you can look them up later on. Read passages from the first, middle and last parts—that should give you a rough feel of the plot.
Find a newer edition. New editions often come with additional materials, such as forewords, author’s notes, and sometimes even study guides. These add-ons can give you more clues to what the book says and what your paper’s focus should be. Try looking up theses or dissertations that cite it—you might find a useful description in the literature review section.

Scan your class notes, then read the summary. In most cases, the required reading is connected to your lessons in some way. So read through your notes and compare them with a quick summary of the book, and try to make a connection between them. That’s most likely what your teacher wants to read, so make it the center of your article. That way, even if you don’t read the whole book, you get to read the parts that matter. Don’t have enough notes? Check your course outline for key concepts or phrases. If you were given a syllabus, you might find some clues there as well.

Photo credits: iBjorn