College Access

MY SCHOOL NOTEBOOK URL: http://www.myschoolnotebook.com/

Step #2 What makes you, you?  

1a. This question may be easy for you to answer, but for others, it is very difficult.  Interview one of your peers using the questions listed below.  Record your interview on the voice recording website, Vocaroo, and email the interview to me-- [email protected]. The answers do not have to be very detailed, we will elaborate on them later on.

Vocaroo URL: http://vocaroo.com/

What after-school activities are you involved in?

Do you play any sports?

Have you received any awards, scholarships, or special recognition for anything?

How does your culture play a role in your life?

Who is your role model?

What was the most important day of your life?

Describe yourself in three words.

Do you volunteer anywhere?

Do you have a part-time job?

1b.  Based on the answers you gave your partner, elaborate and reflect on one of the questions.  Your responses should be about a paragraph long.  Please be descriptive and concise.

Step #3 College Vocabulary

Define the following college vocabulary terms. These will play a key role when researching your college.

Major-

Minor-

Tuition-

Financial aid-

Credits-

Personal Statement-

Registrar's Office-

Admissions Office- 

Step #4-The Facts

There are a number of different factors to consider when choosing a campus...

1a.  One of the Rutgers campuses will be your home for the next four years, so one main thing to consider is location, location, location! How far away are each of the campuses from your house?  

MAPQUEST URL: http://www.mapquest.com/

1b. Each Rutgers campus is a different size. How many students attend each of the campuses?

1c.  What is the faculty to student ratio for each campus?

1d.  Based on the information you discovered in step two, create a Pro/Con list for ONE of the following topics:

     -Far from home vs. Close to home

     -Large campus vs. Small campus

     -Large classroom vs. Small classroom

Provide at least five pro's and five con's, use 2 of the college vocabulary words in your list.

Step #5-Life outside of class

1a.  What do you like to do outside of going to class?  Research the campus life of each campus.  Provide three quick facts for each campus that really intrigue you.  This may include athletics, Greek life, organizations, etc.

1b.  REFLECT: Choose one of these facts about the campus life and reflect on one the following question:

      -How will this event/group/organization benefit you?

Step #6-MAJORS

Rutgers University has over 100 majors and minors.  

1a. Some of you may have an idea about what you want to major in, while others may have no idea--EITHER is fine! Explore BigFuture's website, a site sponsored by CollegeBoard, to explore your interests and possible majors.

BigFuture URL: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers

1b. REFLECT (one paragraph response) on the following question:

  -What will Rutgers be able to teach you, in regards to your major, that you do not already know?  Include specific programs, courses, or internships that Rutgers has to offer within your major.

1c.  Meet with your partner from step #2 and discuss how your interests relate to your major choice.  Record your results--does not have to be in paragraph form.

Step #7-VISIT

By now you may have a pretty good idea about which campus you want to apply to, but how can you really know where you want to go, without touring the campus and surrounding area?

1a.  Schedule a campus tour.  Record your date and you can receive an excuse form from my office.

1b.  Create 8-10 questions that you will ask your tour guide and record them in your online notebook.

Step #8-APPLY

After discovering all of the amazing details about yourself and what Rutgers has to offer, I'm sure you're more than ready to apply..

1a.  Find and list the application deadline dates for the Rutgers Application

1b.  Now, while throughout this WebQuest you were learning about key college terms and what Rutgers really consists of, you also learned a lot about yourself.  One of the main elements of not just the Rutgers application, but any college application, is the personal statement or essay.  Rutgers University's essay reads:

Rutgers University is a vibrant community of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. How would you benefit from and contribute to such an environment?  Consider variables such as your talents, travels, leadership activities, volunteer services, and cultural experiences.

Using the information you learned about yourself throughout this WebQuest (through your interview and reflections) create a first draft for the Rutgers University essay.  Make sure to also consider the research you did on what Rutgers is able to benefit you.

Watch this clip for tips on your essay, straight from an admissions counselor!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q-ZHVSBiRo