More Than a Test Score

At Zinch, we’re dedicated to serving our students by helping them research, get in, and pay for college. Thanks to you—our amazing community—
we’ve grown by leaps and bounds over the past years, and are continually looking for ways to let students showcase themselves as more than test scores.

With that in mind, we’re thrilled to announce that Zinch is joining the Chegg family, to supercharge how we help students save time, save money and get smarter.

Now, with Chegg, the number one online student resource for textbooks, ebooks, and homework help, we can find new ways to give you an edge throughout high school, college, and beyond.

Thanks to all our Zinchers out there, we’re pumped about this move and hope you are, too. Here’s to rocking the education world as we know it!

For more information, click here to read our official press announcement.

In an age of high unemployment rates and a less-than-ideal economy, many students perceive admission to their dream school as just that—a dream. While maintaining high test scores and GPA rankings are amongst the first hurdles prospective students look to overcome, the issue of affording a college’s tuition costs can often be enough to discourage any young hopeful.

What many students don’t realize however, is that a number of colleges—including some of the highest ranked in the nation—are creating more opportunities than ever for students to get in and pay for their education. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University is an
exemplary example of how the higher education system
is looking to open its doors to students of all backgrounds.

Admission to Yale is based on much more than mere class selection and grades. While academics are an important factor, Yale is more interested in seeing how a student has challenged themselves with difficult coursework and how well they have done under such demands. They view a student’s entire high school program–including senior year–as a reflection of their potential for academic rigor and success. You can learn more about Yale’s admissions policies, and what Yale looks for in a student, by visiting the Advice to Candidates section on the school’s official website.

At Yale, all financial aid is need-based, allowing the university access to talented students no matter their personal or financial circumstance. In the 2010-2011 academic year alone, Yale provided $109 million of financial aid to their students, with 57% of their undergraduates receiving need-based aid. Last year, the average Yale scholarship was over $35,000, yet due to the varying levels of family need, their scholarships may exceed $50,000. In addition, the university also recognizes the strain tuition costs may place on a student’s family, and has instituted a policy which waives the expected family contribution for students whose families make less than $65,000 a year.

Another way Yale provides for students with financial need is through term-time work. The Yale Student Employment Office (SEO) provides free job posting and online application services to the campus and local community. In the 2011-2012 academic year, about 50% of all Yale undergraduates will work on campus or with participating non-profit agencies, with a starting pay rate for on-campus employment at $11.75 per hour.

While Yale is providing a multitude of opportunities for students, their campus isn’t the only place to see what’s available–you can also connect with Yale University by visiting their Zinch profile! On Zinch you can learn more about Yale’s financial aid, upcoming events, and get advice about applying to colleges. And if you’re interested in receiving more information about how you can join Handsome Dan and the rest of the Bulldogs, make sure to click the green “LIKE” button to let them know!

Looking for job or internship opportunities online? Chelsy McInnis, our Student Ambassador at Lindenwood University, shares some insight on how to effectively use social media to land that dream gig.

Technology is amazing; in every way, shape, and form it is just awesome. I was watching Mad Men the other day (it’s placed in the 60’s) and noticed the stark difference in technology. There were no cell phones, computers, iPods—nothing. For the people that grew up during this time, some of them are now the stockholders and CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies. For others they are the owners of your favorite local business. And to us, these are the people asking us about that “Facespace” website we’re always surfing.

The wonderful thing about today is that as a generation we have grown up with the latest technologies; the PlayStations, the cell phones, the portable computers. We were born with an advantage over any of our predecessors because we learned how to adapt to new technologies quickly and fluently. Now with the boom of social media, people are looking for the young folks who “get it” to help them market their business. Agencies have sprouted up solely for digital marketing, and they need help – That help is you. That help is me.

Social media is a god-send for college and high school students. Twitter and LinkedIn are premium outlets for networking and job recruiting. Social media is not only creating jobs, but it is allowing us—students—to create our own jobs.

So here is how you do it:

• Get a Twitter account: If you don’t have one, get one, and then start networking your butt off. Follow the accounts of companies you respect, companies you dream of working at, and start interacting with them. Follow people in your area and in your field, interact with them. On Twitter you have the opportunity to build your own community.

• Follow the #internship Hashtag: You’ll find many people tweeting out tips or job opportunities and it allows you the chance to find other interns to follow on Twitter.

• Wondering if your dream job is available? Tweet your dream company and ask: I got my first internship by hassling my soon-to-be-employer with all kinds of DM’s asking about open positions and constantly interacting with their blogs and tweets. Eventually they called me for an interview for an internship opportunity they cooked up for me (they didn’t even take interns at the time).

• Expert in something? Share the wealth: If you’re knowledgeable or passionate about something, start a blog. Tweet out tips, do something. If a potential employer Google searches your name and finds a blog filled with posts related to your field – you’re golden. Many people at local networking events tell me they’ve at least come across my blog once. Having a blog can prove you know more about social media than Facebook and Twitter. Knowing the tools of the trade is one step to getting paid for it. (WordPress is a good blog start-up)

• Use social media because you want to, not because you have to: Social media has an unlimited potential if you use it. But you shouldn’t feel obligated to. If you don’t actively use it, people will see you as a casual user than a social media powerhouse. If you’re active on Twitter and participating with people in your field, people will notice.

I once had someone from a nationwide company send me a message on Twitter asking if I’d be interested in interning for them. Their web content manager was pitching the idea of a social media branch and was pitching the idea of me specifically to the CEO’s. There are hundreds of job recruiters on Twitter and LinkedIn just looking to come in and sweep you up, so stay active on these sites if you are passionate about it – because yes, there can be a job in feeding your internet-addiction.

Wanting a Q&A session over anything I missed here? Find me on Twitter @chelsysayshi or at my blog chelsycupcake.com.

Founded in 1873 in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University is well known for their four undergraduate schools (Arts & Science, Peabody School of Education and Human Development, School of Engineering and Blair School of Music) and six graduate programs. Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 20 national universities, Vanderbilt is among the most highly regarded institutions in the higher education community, and is dedicated to serving students–both inside and out of the classroom–through admissions opportunities, financial aid
policies, and student outreach programs.

The admission process at Vanderbilt is need-blind, meaning a student’s ability to pay for tuition is not a deciding factor in whether or not the student is admitted. Rather, the admissions office at Vanderbilt examines how well a student lives up to their inner potential; these factors include a student’s ability to challenge themselves with an ambitious high school curriculum, a passion for non-academic pursuits, and a genuine desire to grow as both an individual and a member of the Vanderbilt community.

To help better a student’s likelihood of being admitted to their ideal university, Vanderbilt’s admissions personnel suggest keeping the following points in mind when embarking on your college search:

• Create a “Board of Advisers”: The college search is a very public decision, and everyone you know, and even those you don’t know, will be asking you about your search and wanting to give advice. Select a group of trusted sources (parents, counselors, friends) and poke them for information and gut checks from time to time.

• Consider location: Studies show that first-generation students often apply to fewer colleges, and more often apply to colleges closer to home than peers with parents who went to college. While understandable, this may limit your financial aid options. Visit http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to compare financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

• Play to your strengths: If you like to make lists, make a list; if you make decisions through journaling and introspection, use that to your advantage. Don’t force yourself into other people’s decision narratives–while some students know which school is right for them just by setting foot on campus, it doesn’t work that way for most, and that’s okay.

• Be proactive: Don’t assume that each college will let you know when there is a problem or if they didn’t receive your paperwork. College is about growing up, and with it you are now responsible for seeing each action you take to the very end.

Financial assistance is another priority at the Vanderbilt admissions office. In the 2010-2011 academic year, the total amount of gift assistance (from all sources) awarded to all first-year undergraduate students surpassed $36 million; over 60% of enrolled undergraduates received financial aid. It should also be noted that financial aid awards from Vanderbilt do not include loans; instead of offering need-based loans to undergraduate students, Vanderbilt offers additional grant assistance, resulting in minimal-to-zero debt for students that qualify. Vanderbilt will also meet 100% of a family’s demonstrated financial need for all admitted U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens.

Finally, Vanderbilt also offers numerous outreach programs for prospective students. The Vanderbilt Summer Academy (VSA) is a residential summer program held directly on campus, offering math, science, and humanities courses that integrate the university’s many research programs into the classroom. Through the PAVE Program, high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing an engineering, pre-medical, or science/technology major can enroll in a six-week course aimed at developing problem solving, computer application, and laboratory skills. Lastly, Vanderbilt has established the Vandy Fan for a Day Program, in which high counselors nominate select juniors and seniors from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and provides them with information about the university’s admissions process and financial aid options, along with the chance to experience a live SEC football game.

Vanderbilt is a great school doing great things for students, but remember, their reach isn’t limited to just their campus. You can connect with Vanderbilt University by visiting their Zinch profile, where you can find news and updates directly from the school, along with more about tuition costs, hosted events, and available areas of study. If you’re interested in receiving more information about what Vanderbilt can offer YOU, click the green “LIKE” button to receive more info directly from their offices.

Congratulations to Sierra Tooley, our latest Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship winner!

Former UC Berkeley president Clark Kerr once said, “The university is not engaged in making ideas safe for students. It is engaged in making students safe for ideas.” We felt Kerr’s statement was an interesting one, and wanted to hear what that quote meant to you. Sierra’s interpretation caught our eye due to her straightforward approach and practical reasoning behind Kerr’s comment.

Here is her winning essay:
A student can’t truly be educated without facts AND opinions. If Voltaire and Descartes weren’t allowed to share their ideas, society wouldn’t have advanced the way it did. Students need to have that safety to share their ideas as a closed-minded society will never advance.

Here is a bit more about our winner:
I’m an aspiring fashion business owner. I’m creating my own business with my best friend as my currently. I know I could be a great entrepreneur. I plan to study Business Administration and Fashion Merchandising. I love fashion and I love having power. It’s the perfect job for me. I’m a great student, I’m involved in community service, and I aim for excellence.

Here’s a few of our favorite runners-up:

Danny F. – Clark Kerr meant that the university’s purpose isn’t to dumb things down for students, or avoid subjects that might hurt feelings. Its purpose is to open the students’ mind to ideas, and get them to think about things creatively, which will help them contribute to society.

Destiny L. – By making “students safe for ideas,” they are teaching them to embrace new concepts and approach ideas in new ways. It doesn’t mean censoring the ideas in order to make them politically correct. If anything, it means allowing students to create new ways of thinking and doing.

Chelsi M. – College is not there to make things easier for kids or to sugar coat anything. You learn real things here. It is not fantasy that is taught, but life. Real life, and students are helped to deal with the ‘ideas’ of life that we all must learn. They’ll be able to handle it.

If you’re a college bound student, the best prepping you can do is getting a jumpstart on paying for tuition. Enter to win our Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship for your shot at $1,000. Three sentences for a thousand bucks?! It can’t any easier than that.