Good News - September 2021

28 SEPTEMBER 2021 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition h college fair h 2200 SW 10th St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 [email protected] - 954 637 2268 @southfloridabiblecollege APPLY NOW! Save $75 application fee for the month of November SFBC.EDU/ GOODNEWS Access the link to receive this promotion SAVE $75 TODAY Christian Counseling EARN A BACHELORS DEGREE IN AT SOUTH FLORIDA BIBLE COLLEGE tfc.edu FOR OVER 100 YEARS, Toccoa Falls College has been dedicated to developing charac- ter with intellect. We exist to educate and inspire students to change the world through their studies, and we believe that glorifying Christ is found in doing this work to the best of our ability. We honor God by providing premier academics, centering on Christ both in and out of the classroom, and creating spaces for students to be known within the Toccoa Falls community whether it be as a residential, online, dual enrollment, or graduate student. Getting accepted to your dream college can be a competitive process. College Fair Circuit Coordinator and Director of College Planning at Westminster Academy Donna Payner offers the following tips to high school students that can help them stand out from the crowd in the college application process. Activities When doing the resume or activities part of the application, talk about what your role was in the club, not what the purpose of the club is because college admission counselors know these nationally-recognized clubs. They want to knowwhat that student did personally to con- tribute to that club. Always look for opportunities to highlight leadership roles, especially if there’s been a pro- gression. For instance if you’ve been in key club for four years, you started out as just a mem- ber then you were a committee chairman and then you were elected president, that shows a progression of leadership for which you made a big contribution. Not everyone will have the opportunity to be president of a club, but leadership can still be demonstrated through partic- ipation on committees. Volunteer in an area you’re passionate about. If you’re passionate about the environment then volunteer within the community to help the environment. if you’re passionate about work- ing with children, then your volunteer service should reflect that. Colleges want to see you demonstrate that passion, and a long term commitment is more important to colleges than a lot of scattered experiences all over. Essays When it comes to essay topics, Christian colleges often want to hear your testimony and how you live out your faith within your community. Secular colleges tend to look for a student to show who they were, how they’ve encountered an obstacle or they’ve grown throughout high school and why they’re ready for college. Demonstrate resiliency, maturity and problem solving. Testing Prepare early for the standardized testing process. Those SATs and ACTs should really be something that happens spring of the junior year or the summer between junior and senior year and should be wrapping up by October or November of the senior year. Due to COVID it was hard to find an open testing center, so a lot of colleges went test op- tional and remain test optional because they didn’t want families to feel they had to put their children at risk in order to take a test and there was no online option. However, Florida public universities require test scores for admittance as mandated by state statutes. Apply early The most important tip Payner offers is to apply early and complete your FreeApplication for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form early so you will be first in line for acceptance and fi- nancial aid. Learn more at studentaid.gov. Tips to Stand Out on Your College Applications