Wendy Andreen, PhD - College & Career Planning

- - MAKE THE MOST OF LIMITED CHARACTERS ON THE SECTION!

🖌️ You may list up to TEN Activities & 5 Awards on the COMMON APPLICATION.

🖌️ ❗️BEFORE AUGUST 1 - create your list of Activities!
- Remember to calculate HOURS PER WEEK & WEEKS PER YEAR for EACH Activity BEFORE August 1❗️
This will save you time & frustration when filling out the application.

🖌️ Know the rules for writing each Activity
- Characters - NOT words❗️
A character is EVERY keystroke - letter, number, symbol, & space‼️
- Use ACTION VERBS, bullet-point statements
- Review the examples on the CommonApp site application guide

🖌️ ❗️CHARACTERS ALLOWED FOR EACH ACTIVITY
🔸 50 characters - Position/Leadership
🔸 100 characters - Organization Name
🔸 150 characters - Activity details, accomplishments

🖌️ ❗️EXAMPLE

🔸 Position (50 max)
Volunteer Care Giver-Receptionist

🔸 Org Name (100 max)
ABC Animal Shelter

🔸 Activity (150 max)
Walk, play, clean dogs & cats. Monitor front desk. Promoted to weekend receptionist. Answer phone, questions. Greet visitors, direct deliveries.

❗️Hours per Week
- 6
Weeks per Year
- 25

❗️Grades Participated
- 10, 11, 12

🖌️ Notice the succinct phrases.
- Omit nouns like, “I walked…”
- Begin phrases with action verbs
- Use commas & semi-colons to link activities
- Bullet points, NOT full sentences

🖌️ Hrs/Wk & Wks/Yr calculated
- Include year participation

🖌️ Grades Participated
- Drop-down menu
- Click each year of participation
- Not every Activity may have been 4 years. That’s ok.

🖌️ Get ahead of August 1 & write Activity statements

🖌️ Post Activities in order of importance & impact especially if one or two support your choice of ❗️

The journey continues…
Know yourself
Know colleges
Know how to write impactful Activity statements with limited characters❗️

- publishes BEST UNIVERSITIES list. has 20 of them! 💥

🌎 2,250 universities

🌍 105 countries

🌏 275 institutions ❗️🇺🇸

🌎 20 in ‼️

🌏 There are amazing institutions of higher around the world

🌎 The United States is home to one of the largest numbers of the & on this list including:
#1 Harvard
#2 MIT
#3 Stanford

🌏 While I am very cautious about ‘rankings’, this list is meant to be about of what is in our backyard (both U.S. & Texas)❗️

🌎 Texas is home to over 100 4-year colleges & universities - & + specialized graduate schools.
- As a Texan, you don’t have to travel far for an outstanding college education!
💥 Just because you may not see every college in Texas on this list, know that our state offers an excellent array of public, private, small, medium, large, & extra-large institutions❗️
❤️ There is a ‘fit’ for everyone!

🌎 You may be surprised at some of the universities on this list.
- Did you realize just how respected they are in the global college world⁉️
- Rankings were based on 13 weighted categories including:
Research oriented
Global research reputation
International collaboration
Publication volume

🌎 Links to both the USNWR & Houston Chronicle sites are in the Comments section. ⬇️

🌎 The list of GLOBALLY recognized universities in TEXAS with their

56 The University of Texas at Austin (UT)
113 UT Southwestern Medical Center
144 Baylor College of Medicine
177 Texas A&M University - College Station
201 Rice University
296 UT San Antonio
324 UT Health Science Center Houston
390 University of Houston
451 Baylor University
503 UT Dallas
562 Texas Tech University
599 UT Medical Branch Galveston
739 University of North Texas - Denton
875 UT Arlington
1153 UT Rio Grande Valley
1238 UT El Paso
1531 Texas State University - San Marcos
1871 Texas Tech U Health Sciences Center-Lubbock
1906 TCU (Texas Christian University)
2141 Sam Houston State University

The journey continues…
Know yourself
Know colleges
Know the United States & Texas are home to outstanding universities! 🇺🇸

- TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY - CLASS of 2031 - 2027 - START YOUR TAMU PROCESS NOW❗️ PROMPTS RELEASED & there are several❗️👍

👍 TAMU updated their page on the website❗️

👍 All hopefuls - you know that means you need to work on your applications during JUNE & JULY❗️

👍 Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System
- ALL Aggie applicants must submit the STARS form.
- You SHOULD complete it before August 1, SAVE it, and then be ready to AFTER your application is received❗️
- Print a copy of your or grades from grades 9-11.
- Be prepared to write in or select the course title and add the semesters grades on the STARS form.
- Applicants who are NOT in the top 10% only submit STARS. Do not send a transcript!
💥 Applicants IN the top 10% of your class must submit BOTH a TRANSCRIPT & STARS.

👍 Application: COMMON APPLICATION opens AUGUST 1.
- Reminder: it will take 3-5 business days to receive & process your application.
- REMEMBER: You will have to post HOURS PER WEEK & WEEKS PER YEAR for EACH listed. 💥 Calculate those hours now!

👍 “TECHNICALLY” TEST OPTIONAL
- Website clearly says: we “ENCOURAGE you to send your test scores.”
- Test scores may also satisfy TSI requirements.
- TAMU does NOT SUPER SCORE❗️

👍 MATTER
-

👍 DEMONSTRATE
- Always so TAMU knows you were there.
- Visit campus
- Attend fairs
- Attend information sessions
- Talk with recruiters

👍 ONE MAIN ESSAY + FOUR SUPPLEMENTAL SHORT ANSWERS‼️

👍 MAIN ESSAY - Maximum 750 words

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

💥 NOTE - see the word ‘who’? This is - see my previous post❗️

👍 REQUIRED SHORT ANSWER - 250 words max

Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college.

👍 ❗️THREE REQUIRED SHORT ANSWERS - each 100 words max

• In a few words, what are some of your life goals and objectives?

• In a few words, why have you chosen your academic major(s)?

• We know you have a lot of options. In a few words, why did you choose to apply to Texas A&M?
Briefly describe any educational plans you have beyond earning your bachelor's degree.

👍 OPTIONAL (TRULY) - 250 words max

Are there experiences or opportunities that have shaped or influenced your abilities or academic record, which you have not already written about?

‼️ As we all know, TAMU starts reviewing ‘completed’ applications as they are received.
- There are MANY critical pieces to the TAMU application.
- Please don’t wait until August to start your TAMU application!

👍 JUNE-JULY
- Complete STARS & save
- Draft & edit essay and short answers
- Compile your list of Activities & Awards that you will use on the application
- Calculate Hrs/Wk & Wks/Yr NOW
💥HINT - you will need this for ALL colleges where you apply.
- Are teachers writing recommendations for you?
Did you make arrangements for them to submit to TAMU by September?

👍 AUGUST
- Fill out Common Application
- Finalize essay & short answers
- Be ready to submit August-September
- Only submit when it is TRULY complete❗️
- Submit STARS after you receive notification in AIS that your application is received

DISCLAIMER - These posts are meant to help you stay ahead of the college admissions curve.💛
All information has been researched BUT YOU must always verify the information directly with each college’s website & Admissions office.

The journey continues…
Know yourself
Know COLLEGES
Know the ADMISSIONS process & start EARLY

- (TRUE SELF) - HOW WILL YOU “TELL YOUR ” IN YOUR & INTERVIEWS WITH ❓

🫆 IDENTITY
- Your distinguishing qualities, traits, & expressions that make you

🫆 Anyone, especially , can get caught up trying to live up to others’ expectations.

🫆 In the book, 3 Big Questions that Shape Your Future (Powell, Acevedo, & Griffin), the authors address the first Big Question:
IDENTITY - WHO AM I? from a faith-based perspective with exercises to help students better understand themselves.

🫆 In his book, “True Colors.” Roger Birkman, PhD, addresses identity or TRUE SELF through the Method assessment.
- One questionnaire - 3 key reports:
Career Interests
Behaviors/Personality
Careers
- Birkman elegantly opens our eyes to the differences between our and our genuine .
- Birkman is still the only assessment that identifies 3 sets of behaviors: (Strengths) &
- NEEDS being the surprise factor for many.
How we behave socially, is not always what we from others & our environment!
- Do you understand your needs❓

🫆 COLLEGE ESSAYS
- Almost every 4-year requires at least one essay or personal statement of 500-650 words.
- Usually, the wants to know more about the student & asks “Tell us your ”
- Colleges want to know the ( ) behind the ( ).

🫆 STUDENTS
- Are you aware of your true self or identity❓
- Have you found a way to articulate ‘who you are’ in your essays and story❓
- If you meet with a college rep or alumnus for an informal or formal , can you share your with examples and authenticity❓
- Will your needs be met at that university❓
- How will your personality into the campus ❓

🫆IDENTITY REMINDER
- “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” e. e. cummings

The journey continues…
KNOW YOURSELF
Know colleges
Know how to share your story
Know authenticity

METHOD ASSESSMENT - PLANNING FOR YOUR FUTURE

🟥

🟩
- Strengths
- Needs
- Stress

🟦

🟧

✔️ How are you planning for your future?
- Is 4-year college the right for you?
- Is community college a good transition?
- Are the a path to consider?
- Is a gap year appropriate?

✔️ How will your college reflect your choices, strengths, initiative, involvement, & impact?

✔️ Can you answer “Why this college?”
- Did you research ‘why’ and ‘how’ a college or will help you thrive?
- Are you relying on what others say or rankings instead of alignment with your needs?

✔️ Can you answer “Why this major?”
- Can you share your with examples, and most importantly - ❓

✔️ Will your choice of reinforce your choice of major?

✔️ Which activities give you the opportunity to demonstrate your ?

✔️ Where is the ❓
- How did you serve or help others?
- How were you impacted by your participation, , and leadership?

The journey continues…
Know yourself
Know colleges
Know the options with direction
Know Birkman

& - Wendy’s Different Model - Part 3: (the forgotten perspective)

If you follow my page, I introduced my model for college & career planning a few weeks ago.

Three key elements:
- Education & Career
- Method
- Faith

Scroll down for the conversations about the first 2 elements.
Today, let’s address Faith.

🌟 I think of Faith as the forgotten perspective for college & career planning when it should be a priority.

🌟 I am acutely aware this can be a sensitive subject.
- How I relate Faith for readers is not about religions or denominations.
- While I embrace my faith, I leave it to each of you to define what Faith looks like & the role it plays in your college & process.
- It may be a specific religion. It may be belief in something bigger than you. It may be trust that universe is working on your behalf.

🌟 Students and parents are inundated with myriad ‘to do’ lists for college/career planning.
- I am one of those who contributes to your information overload with the posts on this page, LinkedIn, and when I speak to groups.
- Education & Career is one of the pieces of my model. It’s a critical factor!
- All of the information is necessary to navigate the process.
- BUT (there it is again), information overload can override thoughtful self-reflection, acknowledgement of gifts & talents, and awareness of what we are created to do. 💛

🌟 I believe God & Faith are an integral part of my journey.
- A phrase I share with many of my clients is “be open to God’s unexpected people & events.”
- If you prefer, use “be open to unexpected people & events.”
- I have an incredibly long list of amazing opportunities that came to me unexpectedly❗️

🌟 Sit with that statement for a few minutes.
- Review the timeline of your life (even if you are 16 years old).
- Make a list of opportunities, unexpected good surprises & people, and open doors that you did not intentionally seek❗️
- Parents & Students,
Consider some of the following questions:

❓Who entered your life unexpectedly and made it better?
❓Was there a class you took or a professor/teacher who introduced you to a new field of study?
❓ What part-time or led you to a different or place of ? Or, did it reinforce what you were pursuing?
❓ Did you visit a college and just ‘know’ this was the place you are meant to attend?
❓Did you ever receive an unsolicited job offer or honor?
❓ When did you know in your spirit that you were supposed to pursue a dream, goal, college, or career that no one else understood?

🌟 Yes! We should research, make plans, & take action for our futures, BUT we must also recognize that we don’t orchestrate everything in our lives‼️

🌟The Education-Career & Birkman pieces of my model are both concrete & insightful.
- They provide much needed data, facts, information, and insights!
- We find our , true self, & career alignment with Birkman.

🌟 The Faith portion of the model allows for the unexplained - the unexpected.
- To trust or believe that we are here for a purpose with a calling and perhaps several assignments (that will be a future post) that are greater than ourselves❗️
- How do we share our gifts & talents to serve others and make the world a better place?

🌟 Consider the Faith factor in your college & career planning.

The journey continues…
Know yourself
Know colleges
Know Wendy’s Different Perspective Model 💛

- COLLEGE COURSE CREDITS - HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SELECTIONS MATTER❗️KNOW THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ❗️

📚 Most students begin taking classes that offer credit in middle school.
- Examples include Algebra 1, Geometry, First year of a Foreign Language, Fine Arts, Speech.
- The list will be more or less depending on each school district.

📚 Once students are in high school, there may be opportunities to take classes that will give the student both high school and college .
- Again, this depends on what each district offers!

‼️ NOTE: For students who attend high schools that do NOT offer advanced level classes - or very few - a college will NOT hold that against you in the admissions process!
- College admissions officers review each student’s based on what is offered at YOUR high school.
- Did you make the most of what is available to you❓

📚
- International Baccalaureate
- Advanced Placement
- Dual Enrollment
- Dual Credit
- Each of these programs can make it possible for students to begin college with college credit BUT (there’s always a ‘but’)❗️

📚How much college credit and how the college credit will be applied depends on each ❗️

📚 Rising 9th grade students & students already in high school need to ‘think about’ college planning early.
- DON’T PANIC - 😱 You don’t have to know ‘which’ college in 9th grade! BUT, you can & should know what different colleges expect & will accept so you can plan your high school courses thoughtfully❗️

📚 Many private & ultra-selective colleges don’t give college credit for DE and DC. They prefer AP or IB.
- BUT (there it is again) while super-selective private colleges EXPECT to see several AP or IB courses (if available) on a student’s to be considered for admissions, once the student arrives at that private college, he/she may only be granted 6 hours toward a degree❗️

📚 Most state universities will accept all - BUT - (there it is again) the college credits may or may not apply to your or .
- Some credits may apply only as electives.
- Some credits may apply to the degree.
- Research & ask college admissions offices EARLY!

📚 While DC & DE will create an actual college transcript - that follows you everywhere, AP & IB are awarded after you matriculate to your university, IF you and your advisor decide to apply the credits they offer.

📚 DC & DE courses & transcripts are also handled differently, depending on the program, so be sure you are clear about the differences if your high school offers both.

📚 Attend ALL course selection information sessions at your high school!

📚 Talk with your high school regularly to be sure you are taking the classes that best your academic abilities and plans.

📚 Use this summer to research colleges of interest! - Check each college’s website & click on the ADMISSIONS tab.
- Find out what each college accepts in the way of AP, IB, DC, and/or DE!

The journey continues…
Know yourself
Know colleges
Know how college credit in high school works!

& PLANNING & + + = Wendy’s Different Model

(Sharing this post from my LinkedIn account) 😊

❓HOW ARE YOU MAKING CRITICAL LIFE DECISIONS?

🟥 This year, The Birkman Method celebrates 75 years of providing support for critical decisions related to , social , &

🟩 The applications of this unique assessment are endless. Just a few include:
-
-
- Career
- Succession planning
- Team Development
- HPT High Performing Teams
-
- Conflict Resolution
- Family Relationships
- High Potential Management
- Leadership Developnent
- Emotional Intelligence
- leadership, Lay participation
- Leadership & Communication
- Executive Coaching
- Volunteer
- and so much more!

🟦 Why are decisions made concerning a problem or very different❓
- A team is faced with the same challenge but the suggestions or ways to solve it may look very different. WHY?
- Birkman helps us understand that people may see the same idea, problem, or situation from different that are often overlooked.

🟧 &
- Birkman is uniquely qualified to go beyond the or represented in most
- Only The Birkman Method identifies the Needs of a person with respect to
- Birkman doesn’t just identify one Need! Birkman goes deep with nine behavioral component Needs❗️
- How we show up & What we Need to be at our best may not always align❗️

🟥 BIRKMAN - PERSONALITY & CAREERS in one questionnaire & assessment.
- The algorithm combines behaviors with Job Families that align.
- Birkman helps to define a better when it comes to decisions about the best career paths.

🟩 BIRKMAN &
- The COA (Cost of Attendance) for college continues to skyrocket.
- The COA for many popular ‘super-selective’ ranges from $80 - $100 thousand dollars for just ONE year❗️
- Many selective colleges also determine based on the student’s choice of major! They expect a 17-year old to make a career while still in high school!
- What is your ROI (Return on Investment)?
- Birkman helps families make more informed about which majors & college may be better BEFORE committing to a college & a high price tag!

🟦 The journey continues…
Know yourself
Know colleges & careers
Know Wendy’s Different Perspective Model

🟧 Know how the empirical Birkman Method supports critical decisions in all areas of life!

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS - INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY - CHOICES - - SELECTED - ❗️

✔️ The ‘WHAT’ is the foundation
- You decide which activities interest you & speak to your & -

✔️ Build your with deeper
- Make decisions about ‘WHICH’ activities are more meaningful to you.
- Your time is limited.
- You need sleep and proper nutrition!
- Depth is better than breadth

✔️Your deeper involvement will lead to or in one or more of your favorite activities.
- Now, you’re demonstrating ‘HOW’
- Your signals your ability to manage your and participate in meaningful ways that serve others and help you grow.

🔥 The
- This is where students often miss the mark in their
- You need to articulate ‘why’ your and are meaningful to you.
- Why you are led to a specific choice of
- How do you express your & in your list and ❓

🔥 & INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY
✅ What have you learned about yourself❓
✅ What have you contributed to the people you serve❓
✅ What personal growth & understanding have you developed❓
✅ Why are all these factors important in your choice of and/or ❓

The journey continues…
Know yourself
Know colleges
Know Intellectual Curiosity
Know your