Taking the time to proofread one’s application can be a life saver and is an easy way to avoid any mishaps when submitting applications to colleges and universities.

Proofreading is a Must

Sometimes this act is so simple, it gets thrown by the wayside. Students need to understand that proofreading is about more than just catching typos and grammatical errors. Most college applications come with a lot of parts to it and it is essential that each part be reviewed carefully before hitting the “Send” button or sealing the envelope shut.

Beyond the typos and grammatical errors, proofreading is crucial for making sure that any written portion of your application makes sense, is cohesive and answers the questions/prompts.

What you write and how it is received by the college admissions staff is a direct reflection of who you are. Remember: your application has to speak on your behalf since you can’t be there in person.

Don’t Get Comfy with the Copy & Paste Function

Doing the “copy and paste” is a convenient and fast way of saving time when filling out applications or writing personal statement essays. Choosing this method is recommended in situations where a student is applying to several colleges and universities with essay prompts that are similar. But this process shouldn’t just consist of the copy and paste method alone.

No matter how careful you think you may have been, you always want to proofread all the essays you plan on submitting–especially if copying and pasting played a large part. While this tactic is great for inserting entire paragraphs in one click of the mouse, you still need to go back in and replace school names, any school-specific references, etc.

After making those corrections, proofreading must be the icing on the cake. Sure, modifying takes care of certain things but does the essay still make sense after the changes have been made? Only proofreading can answer this.

Check the Basics…Period

Ever thought it was funny that students get points on the SAT test for spelling their names correctly? As humorous as this fact is, the sad part is that there are students who spell their own names wrong without even realizing it. When filling out the basic information on each college application (name, mailing address, phone number, email address, etc.), use proofreading to make sure that everything you’ve entered is 100% correct. Assuming you’d never make such a mistake increases your odds of submitting a college application that has this type of error on it.

Even if you were to bet money on your attention to such detail, the risk is definitely not worth it.

Beginning with the Fall 2013 admission cycle, all majors will become “impacted.” As a result, all majors will have major specific admission requirements.

Local Service Area

Except for highly impacted, space-constrained majors: CSULB will define the local area based on applicants’ high school of origin, using the same geographic boundaries as for freshman admissions.

Military and Veteran Students

All military veterans will also be treated as local. CSU eligible local applicants who have completed the Minimum Transfer Major Preparation will be admitted to CSULB. All other CSU eligible applicants who have completed the Minimum Transfer Major Preparation will be admitted to CSULB based on applicant rank on criteria, recommended additional preparation courses completed, and space availability.

Highly Impacted Majors

A few impacted programs are highly impacted and space-constrained: Nursing, Social Work, Kinesiology and Arts programs requiring talent auditions and portfolios are in this grouping. Specific programs are identified in the major-specific criteria. For these programs, all CSU eligible applicants who have completed Minimum Transfer Major Preparation will be admitted to CSULB based on applicant rank on criteria, recommended additional preparation courses completed, and space availability without a local preference.

SB 1440 Students (Transfer AA Degree) – California Community Colleges

Transfer AA degree students: For CSULB degrees that have been deemed “like” respective community college transfer associate degrees (Associate Arts Transfer/ Associate Science Transfer) in the state-wide Senate Bill (SB) 1440 process, academic admissions criteria will be a subset of or the same as the community college transfer associate curriculum for that “like” major. SB 1440 rules award a small grade point average increase for applicants who have completed transfer associate degrees.

Lower Division Transfer Students

CSULB will remain closed to lower division transfer students except for highly qualified nursing applicants, who may be considered. CSULB will no longer consider lower division Engineering applicants.

Learning Disabilities

A small number of admissions requests through the Stephen Benson program for disabled students will continue.

Transfer Agreements (TAG)

CSULB plans to continue our STEM-TAP (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Transfer Access Pathway), which is based on agreements with eight community colleges and provides for guaranteed admission of transfer students who meet rigorous requirements in STEM fields.

CSULB also plans to continue to participate in transfer articulation agreements with a small number of community colleges that bring highly qualified students into our Liberal Studies Integrated Teacher Education Program in a streamlined manner.

CSULB –Major Specific Transfer Admission Criteria for Fall 2013

Important Items to Note:

1. Transfer students must continue to apply during the initial filing period and declare their intended major. Applicants will only be considered for the ‘primary’ major listed on their application.
2. Courses must be completed by the prior spring to be considered for fall admission and by the prior summer for spring admission. Major preparation courses must be completed with a C or better.
3. Applicants will be required to complete a supplemental application to self-report major course preparation. This will be completed in late January for Fall admission consideration.
4. Transcripts will be required to verify eligibility for students who are offered admission. For Fall admission, these will need to be submitted in April.
5. Admitted students must continue to accept their offer of admission and submit an enrollment deposit. This deadline is currently June 1. New transfer students continue to be required to attend orientation as well.

How will students be considered for admission (Except highly impacted programs)?

1. CSU eligible applicants who are considered ‘Local’ based on their high school of graduation or their military veteran status will be offered admission if they meet the major specific minimum cumulative GPA and required lower division preparation.
2. Other CSU eligible applicants who have met the major specific minimum cumulative GPA and the minimum required lower division preparation will be admitted based on a space available basis based on the additional preparation courses completed if specified in the criteria and their cumulative GPA.
3. If space is available after all students meeting the minimum major GPA and preparation have been accommodated, then CSU eligible students without the minimum major preparation will be considered.
4. Students admitted to the major who have not completed the additional recommended transfer requirements or the additional CSULB requirements must complete them in their first year at CSULB

Admission for student completing an approved and ‘similar’ Transfer AA degree:

1. Under current agreements, the cumulative GPA will be increased by a 0.1 bump and this ‘calculated GPA’ will be applied to the major specific minimum GPA and to any GPA used in the ranking of applicants.
2. The Transfer AA degree curriculum is used in lieu of our specific course requirements as well as any additional recommended preparation.

*For more information on specific major impaction at CSULB or to discuss your specific situation, please see your college counselor for assistance OR check in to the CSULB website for further updates*

Sell Your Textbooks If…

You know you don’t need them anymore. Many college courses require textbooks that are specific to the class. In such cases, you more than likely won’t ever crack it open again so go ahead and see what you can get by selling it to either the campus bookstore or an online company.

You have a widely used book. Some of the most successful textbook buybacks are situations where the student has books that are regularly used for core courses in popular majors like Business, Accounting, Nursing, Philosophy, etc. In these instances, there is no shortage of buyers available, which is very appealing to online textbook buyback companies and even campus bookstores.

However, if there are a lot of these books to go around, there could be the possibility of not getting as much money for them. But if you’re eager to get rid of your textbooks, having widely used titles to sell is a surefire way of offloading them in a short amount of time.

You have the supplemental materials to go with it. Nothing attracts textbook buyback companies more than books that come with all of its supplemental materials. Whether they’re study guides, access codes or CD-ROMs, the more you can include with your textbook, the higher your chances are of finding a buyer and the right price to go with it.

Do Not Sell Your Textbooks If…

The titles you have are outdated editions. There are occasions where certain textbook get updated frequently, causing previous editions to be less desirable by students and buyback companies. If you have one or more titles with more recent editions on the shelves, do your research and find out how extensive the updates to the text are. There could be a chance that you can still find a buyer who is willing to do without some of the more updated portions.

There’s a chance you could use your books in future courses. Surprisingly, many students will sell books they know they’ll probably use later on simply for the instant money. Be practical and instead of dropping your book for a quick buck, hang onto it. This will save you the hassle and expense of buying the book a second time around.

You really like the book. It may sound like a nerd moment but there’s nothing wrong with hanging onto old textbooks. Depending on the subject and content, such books could be used as reference material during school and after graduation–not to mention being a nice addition to your book collection or personal library.

Pursuing a career in hospitality is one that’s not only rewarding but provides plenty of room for advancement, including the ability to seek employment in a variety of settings and locations. Seeking scholarship opportunities should be one of the first steps students take in the process of financing their education. Hospitality majors will want to look for specific scholarships that are geared towards their industry of interest.

AH&LEF Incoming Freshman Scholarship

As the name suggests, this scholarship specifically targets incoming freshmen that plan on majoring in hospitality at the undergraduate level. Students that are full-time and working towards a bachelor’s degree are eligible to receive an award in the amount of $2,000, while full-time students pursuing an associate’s degree receive $1,000 amount if chosen.

To apply for the AH&LEF Incoming Freshmen Scholarship, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident, currently enrolled at a U.S. college or university undergraduate hospitality degree program, have at least 12 credit hours lined up for the upcoming fall/spring semesters and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. View Site

NEWH The Hospitality Industry Network

Students interested in entering a career in the hospitality industry can greatly benefit from receiving a scholarship through the NEWH The Hospitality Industry Network. To be eligible, applicants must be able to demonstrate financial need, have firm plans to seek employment in the hospitality industry, maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, be currently enrolled at an accredited post-secondary school and have completed at least half of the requirements necessary for their intended degree or program certification. View Site

An official transcript and letters of recommendations, along with an essay answering the prompts provided need to accompany the application.

Bill Schwartz Memorial Scholarship

Students studying hospitality in the state of Ohio will want to apply for the Bill Schwartz Memorial Scholarship. Each year one recipient is chosen to receive the $1,000 award, which is renewable for up to 2 years. However, freshmen are not eligible for this opportunity. Full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA, be a resident of Ohio and enrolled at an accredited post-secondary school, majoring in hospitality. Download Application

Minorities in Hospitality Scholars Program

This scholarship opportunity is ideal for minority students hoping to make an impact in the hospitality industry. Each year, the IFA Educational Foundation and Choice Hotels International recognizes its winner with a $20,000 award amount, which is to be used for tuition and books.

To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled at an accredited college or university, be a hospitality major, a U.S. citizen and recognized as a member of a minority group. Freshmen are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. A completed submission consists of the application form, official transcript and a short essay of no more than 500 words. View Scholarships

Thanks to the latest trend reports in education, colleges and universities have shared information about the specific factors the majority of them use to determine a student’s eligibility for acceptance. Although most seem like no-brainers, when put into perspective, this list of factors should be used as a blueprint/map for high school students. Using the information given below, any student can plot out the steps they’ll take while in high school until graduation that will groom them to be the ideal candidate for the college or university of their choice.

Grades in College Prep Courses

Perhaps one of the biggest no-brainers of all, many high schoolers still don’t put enough emphasis on getting good grades. The sooner a student begins establishing an impressive report card, the easier it will be for them to maintain a positive academic track record. Acing college prep courses in particular is a surefire way to impress any admissions office because its shows firsthand that a student is capable of taking on college level work. The more college prep courses a high schooler can get into and pass, the better.

Strength of Curriculum

Colleges want their incoming freshmen to be active and positive contributions to their student body. Individuals that have demonstrated proof of excelling in a high school with a challenging curriculum have a much higher chance of getting accepted into college, compared to a student that got good grades but through a curriculum that wasn’t very difficult to complete.

Scores from Standardized Tests

All high school students know that taking standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are unavoidable. It’s never too early to start preparing for these tests. Students that are poor test takers are strongly encouraged to become familiar with the required standardized tests well in advance of when they plan on taking them. From tutors to practice exams, there is no shortage of resources available to help improve the odds of getting a high score that will impress college admission officials.

Cumulative GPA

Many people will say that the junior and senior years are the most important for students to focus on academically in preparation for college. However, with a majority of colleges and universities using cumulative GPA scores as factors in their acceptance decisions, the reality is that getting good grades and maintaining a strong GPA from freshman year onwards should be a priority. Colleges have more confidence in students that have shown dedication to their grades early on, than those that appear to wait until close to graduation to straighten up academically.

However, it is possible to sell textbooks online. Doing so means improving the odds of getting more money back, compared to the campus bookstore. But this process isn’t a perfect one and all too often students make mistakes that end up affecting just how much they could potentially get back at the end of the school term.

Mistake #1: Missing Supplemental Materials

Want to get the best textbook buyback price? Sell your textbook(s) with the supplemental materials included. Although this isn’t mandatory, making the effort to put the CD-ROM or other materials with the book when sending it off to the company is a great way to maximize the amount you could get. Tossing your supplemental materials or losing them reduces the possibility of  having a successful buyback.

Mistake #2: Being In a Rush to Receive Payment

The thought of getting money for textbooks that are no longer needed is a student’s dream come true. But the eagerness to get their hands on those funds sometimes lead to mistakes. For example, PayPal is a popular option that textbook buyback companies offer students.

Although PayPal means an instant transfer of funds, it also comes with a fee. Anyone that’s used PayPal to receive money has probably noticed a few dollars missing from the total amount. That’s because PayPal automatically deduces its fee from each transaction.

If you plan on selling more than one textbook and are looking at a good buyback amount, be smart and opt for having a check snail mailed to you instead. It might not get to you as fast as a PayPal payment but at least you know you’ll be receiving every cent.

Mistake #3: Trying to Sell Damaged Books

You wouldn’t spend your hard earned dollars on a textbook that has obvious signs of damage, would you? Then why would you expect a textbook buyback company to pay top dollar? This is perhaps one of the strictest conditions that these companies state on their websites when it comes to their buyback policy. It’s important to review the rules and policies for each company you’re thinking about selling your books to. Some don’t mind a little wear and tear, while others will only buyback books that are as close to its original condition as possible.

Mistake #4: Not Following the Rules

When preparing to ship your books to the company, make sure you read and follow of the packing instructions. Failing to do this properly could delay your payment or cause your package to be rejected altogether. Do things right the first time.

It’s a Hands-On Experience

These days colleges and universities across the country are putting more effort into their orientation events so that students have the highest rates of success with making the transition to college life. While no two events are the same, most orientations take place over the course of 1-2 days and comes with an agenda, filled with detailed lists of activities available.

Among the number of activities offered, there are panel discussions students and their parents can sit in on, seminars/group sessions, social events, the opportunity to take placement tests and even register for classes.

Parents Don’t Need to Be With Their Child At All Times

There’s a reason why college orientations schedule their agendas so that students and their parents are separated. Some discussion panels and seminars are specifically for students and there are also panel discussions and group sessions just for the parents. This allows for the ability for each group to receive relevant information and get their questions and concerns addressed directly by campus staff.

Additionally, separating students from their families cuts down on the distraction and the tendency some parents have to be a bit overbearing with their questions and input.

Parents, allow your child to pick and choose the events he/she wants to attend and give them this time to explore the campus, meet other students and get a better feel of what will soon be their new home. There will be chances to reconnect in between activities or plan which events you want to attend together.

Families with younger children are encouraged to leave them at home with a sitter to prevent unnecessary distractions. However, some campuses offer family-friendly orientations that have accommodations for those with younger children, including activities that are appropriate for those age groups. It is best for parents to check ahead of time with their child’s school to find out if bringing other kids is an option.

Missing Orientation Could Cause Setbacks

Don’t think attending college orientation is a big deal? Think you can figure out campus life on your own? Although going to an orientation isn’t always mandatory, it is in a student’s best interest to make the time to be a part of this event. It isn’t just about taking the campus tour and socializing, it’s a chance to get ahead of the crowd and plan accordingly before making the move.

Orientation is a vital time for students to take placement tests and choose their class schedule with the help of an academic advisor. Skipping out could mean being in the dark when it comes to knowing which courses to take in the first year, not knowing how to navigate the campus and not getting a good deal on dorm rooms and selecting a roommate.

Room Fragrance Device

Because the busy life of being a college student doesn’t often allow much free time for cleaning, this can cause a dorm room to smell less than fresh. Purchasing a room fragrance device like the Glade Plugin, or other similar product, is ideal for keeping this living space lightly scented.

What better feeling than to come back to the dorm after a long day of classes and be welcomed by an amazing aroma? Some fragrance products are so technologically advanced that they have the ability to not just produce a wonderful scent but are able to absorb and neutralize bad odors. The result is a welcoming dorm room that you and your roommate will be comfortable in.

Mattress Pad

You don’t have to be a germaphobe to know that moving into a dorm room means sleeping on a bed that has had many previous occupants. Unlike hotels, you can’t always trust how clean the bed/mattress in your dorm will be–not to mention lack of comfort. Make your bed your own by purchasing a quality mattress pad.

Mattress pads are sold in a number of stores and come in a variety of different sizes and types. This product is beneficial because it not only acts as a buffer between you and the well-used dorm mattress, it can provide added comfort, which is ideal for getting a good night’s sleep.

Laundry Detergent Packets

When it comes to laundry, detergent packs are the latest must-have product. Students living in dorms tend to suffer from clutter and when laundry day rolls around, it’s helpful to have less to carry back and forth. Detergent packets are small, making it easy to stick in your pocket or purse and hold just enough to get the job done.

Because of their compact size, it’s easy to store this type of product in even the smallest dorm room without taking up much-needed space. They may cost a bit more but are well worth it when it comes to dorm living necessities.

Storage/Organizer

Don’t have the room to accommodate everything you need? Invest in a medium sized storage unit or organizer. These items come in plastic or fabric and in a variety of sizes and combinations. Some come with separate components that you can mix and match, which is ideal for customizing your belongings. Not only does a good storage/organizer unit allow you to keep all your knickknacks and devices in their place, it automatically frees up space.

Paper Plates & Plastic Utensils

Not many students are keen on washing dishes. To avoid this dreaded chore or if you don’t have access to a kitchen, learn how to use paper plates and plastic utensils. To be eco-friendly, opt for products that are labeled as being biodegradable, recyclable or compostable.

What Type of School Should I Attend?

The most common answer is a culinary school. However, this isn’t the only option. In addition to culinary schools, there are trade schools and traditional colleges and universities that offer a culinary arts degree program. In general, it is best to receive your training and education from an accredited, two-year or four-year school because upon graduation, you will be recognized worldwide as being accredited as a chef.

Attending a trade school, on the other hand, will not allow you to be recognized as a chef until you actually get hired into that position and/or only gives you accreditation in the state where you received your training. Going through a trade school takes less time and is more affordable, compared to traditional college and universities, but typically does not come with an apprenticeship portion.

It is important that the Culinary Arts degree program you choose includes a portion where you receive hands-on training in a kitchen, in combination with classroom instruction. Those with apprenticeship programs are the most beneficial because the onsite training can be added to your resume, making you a much stronger candidate once it’s time to hit the job market.

What Types of Degrees Are Available?

As with most degree programs, you can choose to earn an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Culinary Arts. Below are the general aspects that each degree level covers, as well as which job positions can be obtained upon graduation:

Associate’s: Nutrition, food preparation, kitchen procedures, knife skills, basic cooking techniques, presentation, baked goods, sauces, broths and stocks, brunch/breakfast cooking, fish and meats, desserts.

Most cooks use their Associate’s degree to find employment as line cooks, food/beverage mangers, sous chefs and kitchen supervisors.

Bachelor’s: Management and operation training in the areas of baking and pastry arts, food and beverages, hospitality, menu planning, personnel management, cost control and purchasing, wine and food pairings, restaurant legalities and food history.

Those with Bachelor’s degrees typically go on to work as kitchen managers, assistant chefs or executive chef assistants.

Master’s: Students are able to pursue this degree level after determining which niche/field of the food service industry they want to specialize in. Common subjects of study could include quality improvement, nutrition and food science, human resource management and/or cost control in the hospitality industry.

Chefs with a Master’s degree have the advanced skills and training to find work as a restaurant’s head chef, pastry chef or restaurant manager, among other job titles.

Being awarded such funds is a huge asset to anyone’s college education but it’s not always foolproof. Even when it comes to money for school, students and their families will want to make sure they know the ins and outs of this process, including how to get the most money out of each financial aid package awarded.

Go for Free Money First

Because student loans need to be repaid, families should first focus on acquiring as much money as possible through scholarships and grants since these do not need to be paid back. Too many families automatically turn to lenders to take out huge student loans but this should not be the first step in the process.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be the first stop when it comes to calculating how much money will be required to fund a student’s education.

Once you have a number to work with and know which categories the funds will be coming from, then you can decide if student loans will be a necessity.

Sort Through the Info

When you begin receiving your financial aid award letters, create an organized system so that you and your family knows which funds are “free money” and which fall under the “need to be repaid” category. Not all financial aid is the same and being able to distinguish the difference in amounts and types will make it less likely to encounter unpleasant surprises after graduation.

Challenge the Numbers

By entering the necessary data, the FAFSA will show an estimated amount a family could expect to receive in financial aid. However, it is important to note that the amount shown isn’t always what a student ends up receiving. It is not uncommon for students to end up getting less than they hoped for. But that doesn’t mean the end of things.

Mistakes/errors get made and not investigating the matter further could result in getting less than owed. To avoid this situation, it is vital that families analyze the details of each financial aid package they get. If the numbers aren’t adding up somewhere, then file for an appeal (the instructions for this procedure are typically provided in the paperwork that comes with the package).

Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate

Many families of college bound students don’t realize that they have the power of negotiation. However, this should only be done in cases where the award amount given isn’t enough to properly fund a student’s education. When meeting with a financial aid officer, make sure to have plenty of documentation to back up your request, including any proof of unforeseen situations like getting laid-off, medical health expenses, etc. Should the officer be open to raising the amount, choose a realistic number.