Willie B. Adkins Scholars STUDENT PORTFOLIO

1. Willie B. Adkins ScholarsSTUDENT PORTFOLIO

2. PORTFOLIO EXPECTATIONS • ALL ADKINS SCHOLARS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP A PERSONAL PORTFOLIO THAT WILL GROW AS YOU GROW. • PORTFOLIOS GIVE A SNAPSHOT OF WHO YOU ARE AND CAN HELP OPEN DOORS IF THEY ARE WELL PREPARED.

3. PERSONAL STATEMENT • There is no one correct way to write a personal statement, but in general those who will read your essay are looking for two important things: • HOW the essay provides evidence of your achievements that isn't reflected in other parts of your application • HOW and WHY the events that you describe have shaped your attitude, focus, and, most of all, your intellectual vitality.

4. PERSONAL STATEMENT STRUCTURE • A typical two-page personal statement will consist of the following: • An introductory paragraph that provides your essay's controlling theme   • 2-4 body paragraphs that develop your theme through examples and detailed experiences and build upon each other. The final body paragraph will contain your most poignant information   • A conclusion that widens the lens and wraps up your essay without summarizing or repeating what has already been written

5. PERSONAL STATEMENT:THE WRITING PROCESS Writing a good college essay requires a significant investment of personal reflection, thought and time. There are no right or wrong answers--you are who you are, after all. The best way to get in touch with who you are through writing is to undertake a process of self-exploration and writing that will culminate in an essay that will reveal how unique and interesting you are. Using all the stages of the writing process will help you to: •Understand your essay's theme--its controlling idea •Analyze and reflect upon your experiences as they relate to your theme •Craft a polished essay ***DON’T FORGET TO DRAFT & REVISE***

6. RESUME • Many colleges ask students to include a resume with their applications, and even if the college doesn't, it may be a good idea to include one anyway. This may be the first resume you will create and most likely will not have a lot of work experience to include. • Fortunately, colleges aren't looking primarily for a list of jobs--they are looking to see what you have done. Show off your skills and academic successes with a great college resume.

7. RESUME CONTENT • Sections to Include in a College Application Résumé: • Heading (includes personal information – name, address, phone number, & email address) • Academic Profile (high school and dates attended) • Summer Programs Attended • Honors / Awards / AP / IB courses • SAT/ACT scores / class ranking • Co-Curricular Activities (school clubs, music, sports, etc.) • Extracurricular Activities (out-of-school groups) • Work and Volunteer Experience • Hobbies / Interests / Travel • Skills (Language/Computer/etc.)

8. SAMPLE RESUME

9. TRANSCRIPTS • College admission requirements typically include the transcript, which indicates the courses you've taken and the grades you've received. Because your academic work is a key part of the college admission process, you should certain things in mind when selecting classes and submitting your transcript. • All college admission offices require Official Transcripts. Please see your Counselor and/or Academic Support Specialist on ordering transcripts.

10. EXAM SCORES • PSAT (http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/psat/scores) • SAT (http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-score-choice) • ACT (http://www.actstudent.org/scores/send/) • CA EXIT EXAM (CAHSEE) –See Counselor • Early Assessment Program (EAP)-California Standards Tests (CSTs) in 11th-grade English and Mathematics (http://www.ets.org/csu/about/eap)

11. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION • Most undergraduate applications require two or three letters of recommendation. These letters should come from former or current teachers, employers, or supervisors who are familiar with your work and performance. • WBA requires 3 letters of rec., 2 of which must be from a current or former teacher/instructor.

12. Requesting Letters of Recommendation • When you seek a letter of recommendation, remember that you are asking for a favor. Make the process as convenient as possible for your letter writer by providing context, direction, and requesting in advance (2-8 weeks)!

13. COMMUNITY SERVICE http://www.dosomething.org/college-survey

14. HONORS & AWARDS • Examples of such awards might include: • National AP Scholar • National Merit Semifinalist • National History Day Essay selected at local level and went to State level • Athletics • Honor Roll/Academic Achievement • What you should NOT include are “invitations” to join various for-profit “honor” societies such as “Who’s Who Among American High School Students” or the “National Honor Roll,” If you aren’t sure if one of your potential entries falls into this category, try asking a guidance counselor

15. COLLEGE LETTERS & ACCEPTANCE • Compilation of letters and/or significant correspondence from universities addressed directly to you, such as: • Acceptance Letters • Letter of Interest • Scholarship Awards • Do not include general information requested from universities.

16. CUSTOMIZE • Covers • Pictures • Program Specific (i.e Art Portfolio, Business Samples) • Color Scheme • Themes (Sports, Sciences, Special Interest, etc)