sample admission essay

Student health insurance packages and policies exist to protect students’ health and largely to help them cope with the expenses they might incur if they get sick. If you think being in school makes you safer and less prone to diseases, think again. Every year, many students get sick and fatigued from the workload and demands of college and grad school life. In the US, some states even require full-time students to have student health insurance, which students can get either from the school or university itself or from private insurance companies.

Why student health insurance is important

Having health insurance while in school is beneficial to students because most of them are no longer covered by their parents’ insurance policies. Student health insurance packages are also useful because a lot of students are prone to getting sick while in school due to pressure and fatigue. To be eligible for student health insurance, the student must be between the age of 17 to 29. As for other eligibility requirements, these may differ depending on the guidelines specified by the university or graduate school. If you’re interested in getting a student health insurance policy, you have two options: you can arrange for your own insurance policy from a private insurance company, or get one of those student health insurance packages offered at most universities and grad schools. Those offered by schools and universities are generally cheaper than those offered by private companies.

The student health insurance packages offered at universities and schools are more affordable and come either in group or individual packages. Before you sign up for anything, it’s best that you take a closer look at the insurance policy to make sure that the basic expenses and bases are covered by the policy. Group student health insurance packages tend to be fixed to certain services they cover, so if you have specific medical needs and conditions, you might want to opt for the individual insurance policy.

For some students, being in a romantic relationship is effective in helping them cope with the stress and demands of academic life. There are times, however, when juggling academics and romantic relationships becomes a bit too hard for students – what with the number of reports and papers they have to make and the number of late nights spent working on school demands and requirements. If you find yourself in a similar situation, read on as we give you tips and suggestions on how to effectively preserve and maintain romantic relationships without compromising your studies.

Learn to plan and manage your time

This is a way overused piece of advice, but it’s still effective nonetheless. By learning to plan and schedule your activities way ahead of time, you can anticipate the days or weeks when you’ll be too busy to spend time with your partner. This will at least give you the chance to properly explain to your partner how you’ll have to spend those days and weeks studying, writing papers, and preparing for exams. Effective time management and planning will also help you get a good balance of social and academic life, which is absolutely necessary if you are to stay sane while you spend those long, grueling years in school.

Maintain communication lines even in the simplest ways

Regardless of how busy you are, try as much as you can to spare even just a couple of minutes to email, call, or text your partner. Many couples break up over lack of communication, so to prevent your relationship from going down the drain because of similar reasons, set aside a few minutes of your day just to check on how your partner is doing. Is your head starting to hurt from all the reading and studying you’re doing? Why not steal a few minutes from your studying time to call or text your partner? Not only will this let your partner know that you haven’t forgotten him or her regardless of how busy you are, you can also use these few minutes to take a short break from your intense study session.

If you’re an aspiring lawyer or doctor, then you need to prepare yourself for going into medical school or law school. There are many schools offering pre-med and pre-law programs, but there are those that do not. If you find yourself wondering about what major to take up so that you’ll be prepared for graduate studies in either medicine or law, below are some suggestions on which majors you should take up.

What to major in when planning to go to medical school

Going to medical school will have you taking up many science classes. Some of the best majors that can help you have a smooth transition to medical school are those that include subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology. This is because the training, experience, and education you will gain in these majors will be useful in medical school. You can also choose to major in the social sciences or humanities if you plan to go to medical school.

What to major in when planning to go to law school

There are a wide variety of majors suitable for students who want to go to law school. Common majors taken up by aspiring lawyers include political science, philosophy, criminology, and psychology. What makes these majors good preparation for law school is that these focus on research and analysis, human behavior, and logical thought.

The choice is yours

Many majors include courses that are related to law or medicine, but remember that it’s still your choice. Keep in mind that your college education is not only about academics, it’s also important that you make something of it. Perhaps it would be better for you to take a course that fits your skills, interests, and experience. Doing so will add to your knowledge and hone your talents, as well as give you training in that field. Although the major you pursue may not be ideal for law school or medical school, most graduate schools still accept applicants that come from different academic backgrounds. It would be good for you to talk to your guidance counselor to discuss your career options.

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One serious issue that many schools face is sexual harassment. Research done by the American Association for University Women (AAUW) finds that more than 60% of male and female college students have been sexually harassed during their stay at their college or university. Although sexual harassment is an occurrence that hasn’t been eliminated, you can prevent it from happening to you. Here’s how:

Be aware

In avoiding sexual harassment, you must first know more about it. Any unwelcome sexual behavior, be it nonverbal, verbal, or physical, can be considered as sexual harassment. In college, offenders may be friends, other students, strangers, and even teachers or other school employees. Do some research and understand the causes, effects, law, and policies that are related to sexual harassment. It’s also important for you to know where you should go and who you could talk to in case you become a victim of sexual harassment.

Take the necessary precautions to avoid sexual harassment

* Don’t provoke attention. Dress appropriately wherever you go.
* Be aware of where you are and stay alert. Make sure that you know the place you’re in. Don’t go to places you don’t know very well, especially during nighttime. If you have to go somewhere that you haven’t been to before, ask a friend to accompany you.
* Know that teasing and joking of a sexual nature also stands as sexual harassment. If you’re uncomfortable with this, make it known.
* In case you’re being sexually harassed in any way, let others know. Don’t be afraid to speak out and protect yourself.

Ask for help from your school

Most schools implement their own policies regarding sexual harassment. Make it a point to learn about these rules by reading your student handbook. You can also join a group or organization that aims to help students fight against sexual harassment.

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In case you don’t know yet what program you’re going to pursue in college, then you might want to consider conducting a personal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. This is a project planning method that can help you determine, interpret, and analyze your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You can conduct a personal SWOT so that you’ll know more about yourself and what kinds of careers or programs in college will suit you best.

Learning more information about the SWOT analysis

Before you begin conducting a SWOT analysis, you first have to know more information about its objectives, procedure, and how you can interpret your findings. Conducting a SWOT analysis requires you to answer various questions regarding your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The Internet provides many tools for personal SWOT analysis. When using SWOT analysis to determine your academic inclinations, you have to make sure that your questions and answers are related to educaton, experience, training, and personal qualities. Below are some questions you can use to conduct a personal SWOT analysis.

* In what subjects do I do well in school? (strength)
* Among the tasks required in school, which do I have the most difficulty in doing? (weakness)
* Which schools have programs that I’m interested in? (opportunity)
* What factors are most likely going to prevent me from going to college and getting a degree? (threat)

Taking note of realizations

When you answer the SWOT test, make sure that you’re honest in doing so. One way to help you do this is to think of how other people see you. Keep in mind that honesty is key to knowing more about yourself and realizing what you’re good in and which careers will be suitable for you.

Interpreting results

Once you’ve already taken the test, you can then go over the results and use your findings to figure out which programs will suit you best. Below are some pointers that will help you choose an academic program.

* Choose a program where your strengths will be valuable.
* Don’t go into a program that requires you to deal with your weaknesses. You can just take some classes that will help you overcome these weaknesses. In case you’re not good at dealing with mathematics, don’t go into engineering or other math-intensive fields.
* Maximize opportunities by making a list and taking advantage of as many of these as you can.
* Evaluate threats and determine how you can handle and overcome them.

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If you haven’t decided on a career path yet, you might want to consider going into the fields of humanities and social sciences. Programs specializing in these areas can prepare you for various kinds of jobs. This is because the humanities and social sciences provide education and training to students by covering a wide variety of subjects. Below are some of the most common careers in the humanities and social sciences.

* Lawyers – Getting a background in the field of social science or humanities can prepare you for a career in law. Because students taking up programs in humanities or social science learn much about human behavior, history, and psychology, they can become equipped with knowledge that are helpful for law.

* Teachers – If you aim to teach and guide others, you might want to take up a program in the humanities or social sciences to become a teacher. The skills you’ll learn and develop during your college years in a humanities or social science program are important for a career in teaching.

* Political scientists – If you wish to study political systems and public policies, then it’s advisable for you to consider a career as a political scientist. In becoming a political scientist, you will have to deal with various social and political issues. Taking up a program in humanities or social science can prepare you for this.

* Sociologists – Another profession that is well-suited for you if you want to take up humanities or social science programs, becoming a sociologist will require you to study social behavior, human behavior, and the organizations that help facilitate them. Other subjects that sociologists are concerned in are social psychology, politics, business, and education.

* Anthropologists – When you become an anthropologist, you will be tasked with studying cultural development and human behavior. You also have do research, analyze, and interpret human behavior as well as deal with areas such as the cultural, physical, and social development of humans. Basically, anthropologists make it their mission to understand people in various contexts, mainly social ones.

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Careers in the fields of science and engineering are often among the most prestigious in the world. This is mainly due to the many contributions that engineers and scientists have made over the years, which have done a big part in making our lives more comfortable and making it easier for us to accomplish various daily tasks. If you’re interested in engineering and science, then you might want to consider going into one of the five careers presented below.

Science

* Hydrology – Hydrologists are professionals studying various aspects of the water cycle to figure out how much water there is at a certain reservoir or body of water, how water is circulated throughout earth, and how water makes its way to oceans and the atmosphere. Recognized by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as among the fastest growing careers in science, hydrology is something you might want to pursue.
* Environmental science – When you pursue a career in the field of environmental science, you will have to research, analyze, and find solutions for environmental problems affecting people and wildlife. This career is advisable for you if you aim for career growth.

Engineering

* Civil engineering – Civil engineers deal with designing sewage systems, roads, bridges, water supplies, and airports. They also take responsibility for overseeing the construction of these infrastructures.
* Mechanical engineering – When you become a mechanical engineer, you can enter various industries because this field is one of the broadest and largest engineering professions. Mechanical engineers deal with designing, maintaining, and manufacturing mechanical components and equipment.
* Electrical engineering – Electrical engineers are responsible for designing, manufacturing, and developing electrical equipment. They can also be tasked with installing, configuring, and maintaining electrical systems.

Whatever career path you choose to pursue, be it in the field of science or engineering, it’s important that you prepare for it well. You can plan and prepare by taking up programs, attending workshops, and engaging in various activities that help you hone your skills and give you experiences that will be valuable in the specific field you wish to enter.

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Choosing a career path is an important and often difficult decision to make. Perhaps you are being forced by your parents to choose a career that will provide you with a high salary. Or perhaps you don’t really know what kind of career you want to have. What you need to do is assess your interests and skills. It’s going to be your career after all, and you need to find one that suits you well and makes you happy.

Know your options

Find jobs and career paths that will enable you to utilize your skills. Make sure that a certain career interests you before you go into it. Make a list of things you love doing and subjects you’re good at. You can then look at this list and look for professions that require you to have these skills or jobs in which these skills will be an advantage.

Hone your skills

When you already have a clear idea of what kinds of jobs interest you, you should then try to gain some experience in that field. If you’re on your way to college, consider taking up programs, seminars, extracurricular activities, and workshops that are related to the jobs you want to pursue. If you’ve already graduated from college, you can attend lectures and join organizations. Not only will doing these help you enhance your skills, but these will also be a great addition to your resume.

Consider following these tips

* Talk to your professors, guidance counselor, or friends who know you well. Ask them about their opinions of you and what kind of career they think you would thrive in.
* Find information regarding the qualifications and requirements you’d need to be accepted into jobs you want and do something about these.
* Allow yourself to experiment and explore. In case you’ve already gotten a job in a particular field and then realize that it’s not right for you, you can find a different job in a related field or in a totally different industry. It just takes a little perseverance and research, and you’ll surely be on your way to finding career satisfaction.

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When you go to college, you will be required to submit academic papers about various topics. It’s not only your writing skills that are important when doing these papers. You should also know how to research effectively as well. Whether you’re crafting an essay, a thesis proposal, or a dissertation, you will most likely have to make use of your research skills to find information and make sure that your paper is full of useful content. Below are some tips on how you can sharpen your research skills.

Get all the information you need about your assignment

Before you begin researching for material that you can use for your paper, you first need to have a good understanding of what you need to do. Take note of the following factors before you start doing your paper:
* objective of the assignment
* topic you’re required to discuss in the paper
* deadline for submission
* kinds of sources allowed
* minimum word count or page count for the paper
* type of citation needed
Once you already know what’s expected of you and what you need to do on your paper, then you can start researching.

Do some planning

Now that you know what to do and when you have to finish it, you should then schedule your time and plan your research methods. Make sure that you give yourself enough time for getting information for your paper, writing it, and editing it before the submission date. You can then begin your research by looking for books or newspapers in the library, checking the Internet for credible sources, or finding some information from books you already own. You may find yourself overwhelmed with the sheer volume of information you find, so make an outline of what you need to write and focus on the objective of your paper.

Implement some effective research strategies

* If the topic is too broad, narrow it down. It’s easier to do research on a narrow topic. In case you’re apprehensive about narrowing down a topic, you can create a list of research topics and ask your professor if doing your paper on one of these topics will be alright.
* Start your research by getting background information about the topic.
* In case your teacher gives you a list of references, make sure to get information from some of them.
* Use the Internet for finding articles and books that will help you with your paper. Just make sure that your teacher doesn’t object to the use of online sources.

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If you’re not familiar with plagiarism, then you should know that this is an offense that can lead to expulsion from college. Plagiarism happens when a person claims another person’s words and ideas as his or her own. Keep in mind that you must avoid plagiarism. Not only is plagiarism an offense, it is also academic dishonesty and theft all in one. Below are some suggestions on how you can avoid committing plagiarism.

Make sure to know what you’re up against

To avoid plagiarism, you need to have a clear idea on what plagiarism is and why people do it. But you also have to understand that there are two kinds of plagiarism: unintentional and intentional. Intentional plagiarism is an unpardonable offense for many academicians. Unintentional plagiarism, on the other hand, happens when citations aren’t done correctly. You can avoid unintentional plagiarism by doing some research on how to do citations.

Learn more about the rules

There are many different types and forms of citation. Your professor will most likely specify a specific type when asking you to write a paper. In case the professor doesn’t specify what form of citation to use, cite your sources properly anyway. This is better than just turning in a paper without giving credit where credit is due. Do some research on how to put citations, where they are need, where you should put them, and how to format your paper with citations correctly.

Understand why it’s important to follow the rules

It’s difficult to follow rules if you don’t understand why these rules were made in the first place. Rules against plagiarism are there for various reasons. One is because these rules are intended to protect the author’s right to be credited for his or her ideas or words. Another reason why these rules are implemented is so that students will be encouraged to think for themselves and formulate their own ideas and words. It will be good for you to challenge yourself and explore your own mind to think up new ideas and present them in your own way. By doing so, you will be avoiding plagiarism. But more than that, you will be imparting new knowledge to readers and expanding your own intellectual horizons in the process.

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