The College Bound wAGon Rides Again

With the holidays approaching, everyone is talking about two things: the desserts and your college search.  Let’s head them off at the pass and have you ready to take on the tough questions. 

The last post (http://ukagstudents.blogspot.com/2011/10/college-bound-wagon.html) mentioned a few tips about prepping for the ACT and SAT and hopefully made you think about why you are going to college and why planning is so important in the process.  Hopefully you have also had time to get that planner, or at least learned how to use the calendar function on your phone.  

I want you to now to open a new word document on your computer and type your name on the top.  Then type 12^th grade, hit enter on your keyboard.  Type 11^th grade, hit enter.  Type 10^th grade, hit enter.  Type 9^th grade, hit enter.  Now you are ready to roll.  You are about to create a working high school resume.  This will save you tons of time in the future and will help you fill out college applications and scholarship applications.  Here’s a video to help you understand…….

Less than 20 seconds....

OK- now that your template is set up, start filling in each grade level with clubs you were in (BETA, 4-H, FFA, NHS, Math League,  etc.), awards you may have received (honor roll, perfect attendance, speech contest winner, etc.), sports or band activities, leadership activities, conferences or conventions, and any community service you may have participated in or planned for a group.  

(community service - a service that is performed for the benefit 

of the public or its institutions.)

This may take you awhile to complete, but will save you tons of time in the future.  Instead of thinking about each time you collected canned goods or what office in the science club you held sophomore year, the work is done for you.  You can get your applications filled out quicker and easier and it frees up more time for you to catch up on your reading.  I highly suggest this blog.  And The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  

As far as applying, many students choose to do so online via the university of their choice’s website.  Others may complete the Common App (https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx), which allows you to apply to several schools at once.  Still others may seek out the paper form of the application.  Whichever you choose, take your time on it.  Make sure all parts are filled out.  You’d be surprised how many times students forget things like filling out the essay or not signing the application, which makes it incomplete.  Each university can vary slightly on admissions requirements so make sure you know what is expected.  

How do I pick a major?

Picking a major (what you are going to study in college) can be a hard decision, but it’s not something you need to lose sleep over at this point.  Go in with an open mind and learn about non-traditional majors that exist on campuses.  Most student change their major two to three times when they get on campus so doing a little research beforehand can help you stay on track to a four-year degree.  http://www.careerpath.com/ actually offers a quick quiz that was pretty accurate for myself.  

Let’s say you want to be a medical doctor.  Most schools have a pre-med program, but that only means this is a selection of classes that you have to take in order to apply to medical school.  Most students will pair this with a major.  Most schools have a chemistry or biology program and most students will go this route.  Let’s use some forward thinking and think about ways you can make yourself stand out in the medical school admissions process.  Most students will be the aforementioned bio or chem majors.  By selecting a major that is different from everyone else’s, you make yourself stand out major wise from most of the pack.  For example, at UK, students can consider either Human Nutrition or Agricultural Biotechnology for the med school track.  Each of these majors varies slightly in their coursework and opportunities (including an undergrad research project for ABT majors).  Other schools may offer biochemistry or physiology.  

The point is look around at your options and make the decision that’s best suited for you.  Never assume that because a major says something like “agricultural” in front of it it’s for farmers.  Chances are it’s a very strong science or science-based major. (Note: Agriculture is a science.) Also, check out your scholarship opportunities and also the level of opportunities for students in those majors.  Ask questions about trips, conference, leadership activities, etc. when you visit campus or in email interaction with college representatives.

Speaking of email interactions, that’s a good place to stop for this post and to put in a teaser for next time.  You would be amazed by the emails I get and how poor the grammar and spelling are in them.  I’ll give some examples and give some real world communications advice to help make you look like the prodigal student and shine above your peers.  Share the blog with your friends and family via Facebook and Twitter and other avenues you may use.  

In the meantime,  send your questions to me at Jason.Headrick@uky.edu.  I’m glad to hear your questions or get your feedback on this and other posts.

Jason

Director of Student Relations, UK Ag

“Like” us Facebook at UK Ag Academic Programs!

Follow us on Twitter at @UKAgStudents!

Bluegrass Girl Sees the "Show Me" State

Kansas City is known for many things.  It carries a legacy for having the first National FFA Convention.  It has more barbecue restaurants per capita than any other city in the nation.  And did you know if you have a card to says Hallmark on the back, it was made in this nifty town?

On the first week of November that is not all this town had to offer.  The 2011 Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leader’s Conference was in Kansas City, Missouri from November 3-6th.  AFA is a 3 day conference in Kansas City, Missouri where college students all over the United States are selected to attend. There were three different conference tracks based on your year in school, and professional achievement. Each track offers you the chance to be engaged with other students with similar interests, hear motivational speakers, career development training, and network with over a 100 different business’s in the food, fiber, and agriculture industry.

The theme for AFA this year was “My Piece. My Place. Our Future.”  The theme really describes the tone for the conference.  The conference was such a great way to get fired up and even more so about your future in an awesome industry.  AFA was kicked off with a very inspiring Captain Plumb, a Vietnam fighter pilot.  His plane was shot down, he parachuted into enemy hands, was captured, tortured and held prisoner for six years.  Such an amazing story!  He encouraged participants not let the surrounding walls suppress us and to thank the people in our life that pack our parachutes in his memorable keynote ,“Winning through Adversity.”

Here are a few highlights of the track three session that I was in:

“You’ve graduated now what?”  A panel of employers explains how to manage life after graduation, and what employers are looking for in you as a possible future employee.

“Money Talks” Adam Carroll, a motivational speaker that educated participants on how to manage money he spoke on everything dealing with investments, debt, money markets, and stocks.

“Family Dynamics in Agriculture and in Business”  Led by a professor and counselor from Nebraska State University, this track explained how to handle managing different dynamics if you plan on going back to the farm, or starting up a farm.

The conference was also complete without a fun night of dancing, bowling, mini-golf go-carting, and ice skating.

Jolene Brown

On the final day, Jolene Brown, a farm wife, professional public speaker and comedian ended this conference with a bang. She left us with OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE- it’s all in how you see it.

Opportunities are a wonderful thing.  As I finish my fourth and final year at the University of Kentucky I am truly thankful for the opportunities, experiences, and growth that I have been able to partake in, as I network, examine, and research ideas and paths for my future I am thankful for all of the knowledge, and skills that have been given to my at the University of Kentucky.

 I walked away from the conference with profound information and tools to help me succeed in the future, new friends, so many business cards, and pages of notes to apply and examine to my everyday life.  Thanks to the giving support of Monsanto I had the privilege to attend Agriculture Future Leader’s Conference.  I highly encourage other college students to apply and attend this extraordinary conference!  Check it out on www.agfuture.org or for more information, follow them on facebook or twitter.

Keitha,  UK Class of 2012