Shared experiences, resources & successes

Applying to Universities, Internships & Scholarships:

Essays, Recommendations & Resume

Jane Binger, EdD

Chief Learning, DeepTok
Senior Advisor, Center of Excellence in Diversity in Medical Education, Stanford University School of Medicine
Co-Founder & Coach, VIP Mock Interview Program, University of California Merced
Executive Board, California Medicine Diversity Pipeline Coalition

Live, Interactive Webinar

COUN 103 Take Charge of Your Learning
NVC Mesa & Stem / Kaiser Med Scholars Program
Napa Valley College
November 20, 2020
Shared experiences, resources & successes 2

DR. JANE BINGER

I love coaching and teaching college students and healthcare professionals to reach their career and leadership dreams.

My Mother graduated from UC Berkeley, then she went to Santa Rosa Junior College for her pre-med courses and medical school at
University of California San Francisco (UCSF). My Father, who left home at 11 and worked for families for his room and board because his
family was too poor to keep four children, went to community college then dental school. I spent summer vacations in Lodi and
Healdsburg--swimming in the irrigation canals and running through the vineyards with my cousins. Sorting mail in my mother’s medical
practice when I was 8 was my first job. By the time I was 9, my sister and I were cooking, cleaning, and doing the wash for a family of five
along with going to school. When my Father had a stroke that left him totally disabled, all of our family’s income stopped. Without
incredible mentors and scholarships, I wouldn’t have graduated with my BS and my Doctorate in Education from Stanford University, and
my MS from UCSF.

I am an educator, coach, and program leader. I love coaching students in college and graduate school and healthcare professionals, particularly first-generation
individuals and groups, to interview well, succeed in their education, and be effective leaders in healthcare. I have personally coached more than 600 college and
graduate students, professionals, and senior managers. My teams and I have developed leadership education for over 5,000 physician and allied health leader,
executive, board, and student learners.

A few of my career highlights are serving as

-Co-Founder and an educator and coach at DeepTok, a non-profit providing online skills webinars, mentoring, and 1:1 coaching for college students.
-Senior Adviser and co-developer with the Assistant Director, Mark Gutierrez, of the leadership seminar series for medical students in the
Center of Excellence in Diversity in Medical Education at Stanford Medical School.
-Co-founder of the VIP Mock Interview Program and Coach, GradSlam, UC Merced.
-Executive Board Member, California Medicine Scholar Coalition.
-Member, Executive Board 2018 Annual Conference Planning Committee, National Hispanic Medical Association.
-Senior Research Officer, Graduate Medical Education, Research & Philanthropy, Sutter Health.
-Executive Director, Physician Leadership Development, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford (2003-2012)

I live in the Central Valley of California with my husband, a vascular and interventional radiologist.
On week-ends, you will find me gardening, and fishing in the high Sierras, or hanging out with my family.

Join me on LinkedIn or email me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janebingeredd jbingeredd@gmail.com

Shared experiences, resources & successes 3

GROUND RULES
1. No question is stupid.
2. Resources are all around us—maybe sitting right next to you.
3. Misery is optional. If you can’t hear or see, please speak up.
4. Expect questions: We retain what we learn better if we “see, hear, and do” rather than just sit and listen.
5. Practice one thing you learned in our session within 24 hours.
6. Share “For Our Unsung Heroes” with an adult who supports your education in the next 7 days.

THE HELLO

You are an interviewer for X University. You have just reviewed three applicants' transcripts and test scores. Now, you are going to
read their essays and references. What do you want to know about them from the essays and references to feel confident about rating
them positively for admission?
Shared experiences, resources & successes 4

WORKSHOP SNAPSHOT

1. Applying to a university, internship, or scholarship successfully uses the same skills that you have used to set your college goal and
then work to achieve it.

2. To compete effectively for a place in university undergraduate and doctoral programs, you need to address all of the following, not
just one or two of them: a) Key coursework, b) grades, c) extracurricular activities, d) applications and essays, e) standardized testing,
and f) references. Only focusing on grades or club activities will not make you a competitive applicant.

3. To write powerful essays in your applications, you will need to have thought through and outlined “your story.” That is, where you
started, where you are now, and where you want to end up. You will use the essence of this story over and over--in documents,
conversations, scholarship competitions, and job interviews. Your story needs to touch the reader’s heart (examples, vignettes), speak to
the reader’s brain (facts, figures), and be organized to be credible. A powerful application needs to exist within a human being who readers
want to go to school with, have in their courses, and work with in jobs. A personal essay and essay questions along with references—
observations by a third person—flesh out your humanity in an application. And, no one has your individual story. So, the personal
statement and essays need to share snapshots of you that make you become a peer or colleague who those on admissions and selections
committees want to learn with and teach.

4. Making a Personal Database in a Word document of all the information related to your college career, aspirations, and personal
essays will save you a great deal of time when asking for references and completing applications. You will need this efficiency to
complete your goals.

5. Does it really matter how good your application is, if it arrives late at a university or internship office where thousands of students
compete for limited admittance letters?
Shared experiences, resources & successes 5

6. Key steps to getting a great recommendation from an instructor, advisor, and supervisor are related to
-who you select to write the reference,
-how you ask for the reference, and
-what information related to the overall themes of your application you provide the writer.
Have different people write about different aspects of your application.
Provide them with a) required documentation for a letter to get put in your file, b) date it is due, c) what you did and how you performed in
the relevant course or work, d) overall themes of your application, and e) specific points you would like them to touch on. A conventional
reference from a faculty member will say
-how and for how long the writer knows you, -a little about the course or work situation,
-how they perceived you performed in their course, -specific information you have asked them to mention,
-whether and to what extent he or she recommends you for ….

7. The person scanning your resume will get an impression of you in about 6 seconds, then decide to read it or not. You want it to
highlight key facts about you related to the reason you are sharing it; examples of the impact your work had at your school and your work
site; if possible, key coursework in the case of a student and GPA; and relevant awards, honors, and activities to flesh out what you want to
accomplish from sharing the resume. Use blank space and relevant headings to make the resume look inviting to read.

8. Most universities you apply to for a degree, internship, or scholarship, will require you to sign a release stating you allow them to
check your background, including criminal and credit databases, and that everything you submit is “factually true and honest in its
presentation.”

9. Excellent resources are available to help you learn about undergraduate and graduate education, internships, and scholarships. Use
them!

10. You will need grit to meet your goal to become a healthcare professional, engineer, or scientist. Take Duckworth’s Grit Scale to figure
out what grit is. You can grow your grit! https://angeladuckworth.com/grit-scale/
 6

Q1: University, Internship & Scholarship Essays and Personal Statements

Sample Response to an Essay Question for Medical School What Does This Essay
Question Answer Tell
You About the Writer?

What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your
peers and patients?

My most humbling experience was during my first clerkship as a physical therapy student. This was my
first experience in a hospital, and I was nervous with the fact that there were two other students joining
me from another school. I excitedly reported for orientation with my preceptor and immediately noticed
that he did not give me eye contact the entire session. He literally only faced and spoke to the other two
students. The only time I was recognized was when I asked a question; after responding to my question he
would turn back to address the other students. I was aghast at the situation and could not comprehend the
circumstance. This was my first encounter with such subtle disregard. As the rotation progressed, this
behavior continued and even escalated to my preceptor leaving in the middle of my required
presentations. The other students on the clerkship were equally shocked by his actions. I cried for the first
week of the experience as I decided how I would cope with the learning situation. I reflected on the
childhood advice my father gave me on the stereotypes some individuals harbor of African-Americans;
the best way to counter these preconceived notions is to work above and beyond all expectations. I began
to move beyond clerkship expectations by: a) learning all aspects of each patient’s condition, b) staying in
the hospital much longer than the other students, c) presenting projects to improve care to my preceptor
and completing the projects on my own initiative, and d) seeking constructive criticism on my
performance. In a few weeks, his behavior began to change and by the end of the rotation, he agreed to
write me a strong letter of recommendation. This situation taught me the importance of acknowledgment,
respect, and endurance in interpersonal interactions. Not only are these qualities essential for effective
interaction, I believe they are non-negotiable aspects of making a genuine and kind connection with
another person.
 7

Sample Response to an Essay Question for Medical School What This Answer Tells Me
About the Writer

What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions Answered exact question asked
with your peers and patients?
Situation.
My most humbling experience was during my first clerkship as a physical therapy student. Details let me see and feel it
This was my first experience in a hospital, and I was nervous with the fact that there were
two other students joining me from another school. I excitedly reported for orientation with
my preceptor and immediately noticed that he did not give me eye contact the entire session.
He literally only faced and spoke to the other two students. The only time I was recognized
was when I asked a question; after responding to my question he would turn back to Reacted
address the other students. I WAS AGHAST AT THE SITUATION AND COULD NOT COMPREHEND THE Used resources
CIRCUMSTANCE. THIS WAS MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH SUCH SUBTLE DISREGARD . AS THE
Made a strategy
ROTATION PROGRESSED , THIS BEHAVIOR CONTINUED AND EVEN ESCALATED TO MY PRECEPTOR
LEAVING IN THE MIDDLE OF MY REQUIRED PRESENTATIONS. THE OTHER STUDENTS ON THE
CLERKSHIP WERE EQUALLY SHOCKED BY HIS ACTIONS . I CRIED FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF THE
EXPERIENCE AS I DECIDED HOW I WOULD COPE WITH THE LEARNING SITUATION . I REFLECTED ON
THE CHILDHOOD ADVICE MY FATHER GAVE ME ON THE STEREOTYPES SOME INDIVIDUALS HARBOR
OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS; THE BEST WAY TO COUNTER THESE PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS IS TO WORK
How handled issue
ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL EXPECTATIONS . I began to move beyond clerkship expectations by: a)
learning all aspects of each patient’s condition, b) staying in the hospital much longer than
the other students, c) presenting projects to improve care to my preceptor and completing
Results
the projects on my own initiative, and d) seeking constructive criticism on my performance.
IN A FEW WEEKS, HIS BEHAVIOR BEGAN TO CHANGE AND BY THE END OF THE
Learned from situation
ROTATION, HE AGREED TO WRITE ME A STRONG LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.
As a reader, I am left with a
This situation taught me the importance of acknowledgment, respect, and endurance in
sense of how student might
interpersonal interactions. Not only are these qualities essential for effective interaction, I
handle an issue with me or at
believe they are non-negotiable aspects of making a genuine and kind connection with
our school
another person.
Shared experiences, resources & successes 8

Q2: What is the HARDEST thing to do when crafting an application essay, request for a
recommendation, or resume?

1. Selecting the content to put in the essay

2. Organizing the essay into an orderly conversation with the

reader?

3. Both of the above.

Shared experiences, resources & successes 9

SAMPLE UNIVERSITY APPLICATION ESSAY-- WHY TRANSFER MAJOR, WILL SUCCEED

350 Words Max 345 Words

As the oldest of five children of parents who speak little English and have a 6th grade education, I was scared to death to walk into X
Community College Campus. But, I knew I had to do this to reach my dream to be a physician/software engineer/scientist/social worker/etc.

I arrived with lots of love from my mother, a high school drop-out, but no family knowledge of college and few study skills. I have learned
how to study, talk with professors, and tutor other students in the MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) Center at X
College, DeepTok, a pipeline program I participate in, getting a mentor, and tutoring other students. I think identifying and using resources,
something that was very difficult for me, to grow my skills, making friendships with other pre-med students, and tutoring will help me at Y,
also. This, along with my passion for Chemistry and desire to be a physician, will help me succeed at Y.

I love Chemistry, particularly organic chemistry. This pushed me to become a MESA tutor in Chemistry and Calculus. Also, I volunteer in
the Emergency Department at Z Hospital. Here, I have learned what the various staff and doctors do, about triaging patients, and how they
work as a team when a person with a serious emergency, like a drug overdose or heart attack, comes in. I have met some medical students
and researchers from UCSF here, too. I believe these experiences will help me decide on the type of physician I want to be.

Three things really excite me about transferring to Y: Taking advanced courses in Chemistry, like Biochemistry and Molecular Biochemistry.
Doing research in a well-equipped lab. And, meeting other students with my interests. Getting a chance to talk with some professors and
students ahead of me will grow my thinking and tutoring ability.

I will succeed at Y because I am fascinated about what I am learning, and I love seeing and learning through different lenses. All of this will
help me move closer to my dream of being a physician/software engineer/scientist/social worker/etc.

CODES: WHAT I HAVE DONE

MY LEARNINGS, INSIGHTS & BELIEFS
TAKE AWAY MESSAGE FROM JANE:
1. Most of this essay is about the writer’s learnings, insights, and beliefs.
2. Note how briefly the writer talks about what she did. Much of what she has done is in other parts of the application.

©Jane Binger, EdD, 2020. Please do not share this document without prior, written permission of Dr. Binger and DeepTok. jbingeredd@gmail.com
 10

Q2: Why is it so important to think through, then write your story and application essays carefully?
1. If you have thought through your story, then carefully written and edited it, you will save yourself much time when you need to share it in
various versions—short, long, verbal, written—in the future.
2. Dianna Booher reminds us that Aristotle teaches us a powerful communicator touches a listener/reader’s heart and brain as well as
appears to be credible.
This means your story needs to use examples to touch the reader’s heart,
facts to affect the reader’s thinking,
be organized, and
give a sense of where you started, where you are now, and where you are headed.
3. Your coursework, grades, and test scores say how you perform in school.
But, your story helps flesh out the human being behind the performance.
Both are needed to give admission committees, faculty, supervisors, and advisors a sense of you, the person.
a) True b) False

Examples of questions and requests that a university program, internship, and/or scholarship may ask of students from community colleges and
universities. Essay lengths vary greatly. You may have 150, 350, 500, or more words to answer a question.

a) Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major at X University, including your readiness to succeed in your upper-division
courses once you enroll at the University.
b) Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influence others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to
group efforts over time.
c) What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
d) What have you done to make your community a better place?
e) What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to XX?
f) Tell us about something that you wish you had done better.
g) Personal Comments Essay: In one page, please write an essay to help us distinguish you from other applications. Here, please tell us why you
selected the field of (engineering, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, etc.), what motivates you about this field, and what you want
the admissions committee to know about you that hasn’t already been disclosed in your application in this essay.
 11

OPTIONAL
Scan this personal essay, then jot down a few feelings and thoughts this student left you with. How did the student do this?
Email me at jbingeredd@gmail.com in the next two weeks, and ask me for my thoughts on why I find this essay very strong. Feel free to use my
thoughts on the essay to help you think about, organize, write, and edit your personal statement.

Charles Darwin once said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
As a first generation Mexican-American, living within a community plagued by gang violence made it difficult to pursue a higher education. I watched as my older
brother lost sight of his real family, and slowly got consumed by the streets. When I lived in XX, a New Year’s Eve stray bullet nearly struck me. From that day on I knew
I would not settle for anything less than a great education. My aspiration was to leave the ghetto and become someone better.
My parents immigrated to this country to give my brothers and me a better future. My father, with his sixth grade education, has worked two jobs.
After working long hours and going to school part time, my mother recently earned an associate’s degree. Throughout my life, my parents stressed the
importance of receiving an education. They were disappointed when I informed them I would be a father at the age of nineteen. This changed my future to a
minimum wage, full time job. My parents gave me a second chance and continued to support me only if I pursued more education. More importantly, they
gave me a chance to provide my son with a better future.
Not long ago, my son came home with a bag full of medications for GERD and anemia. I wanted to know why he was given the medications and what
adverse effects they might have. That moment was my epiphany to pursue medicine. As a physician, I will be able to give my son a better future and help
ensure his health and safety. It has been an uphill struggle, but I will continue to adapt in order to get ahead for my family.
After taking honors chemistry in high school, I knew that chemistry would be my major in college, but I wanted to know what was possible with a
chemistry degree. That is when I came across medicine as a career pathway. Going into college I did not have a clue where to begin. It was not until my second
semester of college that I found the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP). HCOP has provided tutoring that has truly made a difference in my education,
and it has given me opportunities to further my exposure to medicine and other health related careers.
The organizations I am a part of have allowed me to work on my leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. For example, I was able to establish a club
on campus with other HCOP students called the XX. By working together to establish the club and bringing each other’s ideas into play, I have developed my
leadership and teamwork skills which I will need in medical school. Also, diligently working to have become a new scholar of the Chemistry Department Honors
Program will give me the chance to conduct research and develop my communication skills, an essential ability for a physician, by explaining the chemistry
fundamentals through peer tutoring. In addition, this Summer I was able to shadow an internist and interact with some patients myself at the XX Clinic. In clinic I have
come across patients who face language barriers that affect their understanding of their care. This opportunity has allowed me to prepare for when it comes time to
interact with patients from different backgrounds in medical school.
I look at medicine as a beautiful gem within the health care industry. There are not that many Spanish-speaking physicians, which creates a problem,
especially in California. Within the next decade, Latinos are expected to make up the majority of the population in California. With a doctor of medicine degree, I plan
on addressing this issue by working within a clinical setting that involves some interaction with underserved patients, in an inpatient or outpatient setting. My long-term
goal would be to become a preceptor so that I can help someone else reach their dream of becoming a physician. I would also like to participate in or help establish a
residency program to expose future physicians to other areas that are in dire need of health care providers. A prime example is XX, filled with gang violence and
undeserved communities. There is still more to learn about participating in or helping establish a residency, but I'm looking forward to it.
There is no doubt in my mind that I will struggle at first in medical school while raising a child, but I will adapt to the situation in order to get ahead. The skills
I have developed through my involvement in certain organizations will definitely help me succeed. My goals as a future physician have been shaped by my personal,
professional, and educational experiences. I have overcome too many obstacles in my life for me to give up now. As the saying goes, “when the going gets tough, the
tough get going”.
Shared experiences, resources & successes 12

Q3
What is the most important thing to know about an application?
a) When the application and references are due and when your standardized test scores need to reach the university.
b) Exactly what an essay question is asking
c) All the above

Q4. Requesting a Letter of Reference

What Are Key Steps to Requesting a Letter of Reference? Why?

 13

A SAMPLE LETTER OF REFERENCE

Dear Residency Selection Committee:

It is a pleasure to write this letter on behalf of Ms. SS, PharmD Candidate. I have worked with Ms. SS in various capacities
and feel she has numerous attributes that will ensure her success as a resident and pharmacy professional. I know SS in the
following capacities: Preceptor for her Ambulatory Care experience, project advisor/course coordinator for her pharmaceutical care
research project, and full-time faculty member with XX (XX) with consistent interactions over the past four years.
In general, the XX satellite Campus provides students with a unique experience in serving a highly underserved and diverse
patient population. Students who rank this site highly tend to show a passion and dedication towards serving these patient
populations. SS stands out in that she is not only dedicated to serving underserved populations, but also her actions through
pharmacy school have shown her continued commitment to diverse populations, particularly the Latino community. I have had
many discussions with SS regarding her career goals; she has mentioned that one of her reasons for pursuing pharmacy is
because she saw a need for Latino health care providers. Not only has she held active leadership positions with the XX Latino
Association of Pharmacy Students, her bilingual (English/Spanish) capabilities have proven invaluable on rotations here in the
YY area. She proactively makes every effort to bridge communication gaps by translating for clinical staff and actively
communicating in Spanish as needed.
During SS’s Ambulatory Care ZZ, I acted as a preceptor for her in the XX Medication Management Service (MMS) and
primarily observed her performance in the student-driven medication management aspect of t h e service. This service
provides patient care to a large Latino population, which comprises greater than 80% of the patient population. Given the
student-driven nature of this service, SS learned to interview patients in an independent fashion, make therapeutic
recommendations, and work with patients and primary care providers to implement therapeutic recommendations. With her
bilingual abilities, she was able to connect with patients in a manner many students have difficulty mastering and routinely
showed her compassion by seeking out creative solutions for ensuring patient access to medications. She worked closely
with undergraduate student volunteers and directed their efforts as well as provided them with mentorship in their own
applications for pharmacy school.
In my capacity as her Project Advisor (project entitled: Knowledge, Awareness, and Demand for pharmacy services),
I have observed SS’s enthusiasm for the project and scientific curiosity. SS’s project started out as a Cochrane Systematic
Review, where she and her partner started out by reviewing/coding over 1000 studies each. Given the enormous workload
and the limited time frame to complete the project (1 year), I decided to have them switch to the project identified above.
When I informed the group of my decision to have them change projects, SS showed her determination and genuine interest
in research by asking if she could continue to pursue both projects. SS and her team member have done a superb job
designing the current study and have dedicated numerous evening and weekend hours to questionnaire design, focus group
planning, recruiting participants and undergraduate research volunteers, managing undergraduate research volunteers,
transcribing focus group sessions, and now analyzing the results. SS is incredibly professional and has done an
exceptional job in coordinating/driving progress on the project. Due to the project switch, she was unable to present this
particular research project at the XX Annual Meeting, but given her desire to have experience in presenting her research in
the professional arena, she submitted and presented another poster from prior research. I find such initiative and ambition
palpable and am impressed by the proactive steps and time sacrifices she makes to achieve her goals.
SS continues to grapple with over commitment, a struggle many underrepresented minority students/professionals
have. This is the phenomena where an underrepresented student/professional becomes the sole available advocate for their
community due to the vast need or lack of availability of other health professionals to step into this role. Given SS’s
abundant passion for community service and particular commitment to improving access to care for Latino patients, her
extensive engagement in community outreach and advocacy is not surprising. Unfortunately, the time commitment involved
in fulfilling her multiple professional community obligations negatively impacted her academic performance. In this
instance, SS’s passion and drive, although strength, acted to her detriment when she was unable to recognize her own self-
limitations. To mitigate this tendency, SS has proactively sought out mentorship from various faculties, including myself and
continues to work on her ability to balance.
SS has demonstrated exceptional professionalism, a strong unfaltering work ethic, and demonstrates
determination/passion that few students possess. With continued rigorous clinical training and mentorship, she should
develop into the compassionate clinician and patient advocate so sorely needed in the Latino community.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely and kindest regards,

Q5. Is This a Strong or Weak Resume? Why? 14

Auriel X. Moore
XX Street (XXX) XXX-XXXX
XX, CA 12345 X@XXX.com

Education
XX Community College, XX, CA Expected transfer date: XX, XX
Majors: Chemistry and Management Cumulative GPA: 3.8
Experience
Jane Doe, M.D. Family Practice March 2010 - April 2012
Receptionist & Medical Records Clerk
• Processed all subpoenas and medical records requests including from CA Department of Social Services
• Scheduled appointments and addressed any issues a patient was having promptly, within the same business day
• Worked with pharmacies, medical supply companies, and other physicians’ offices to give patients excellent,
integrated care
Jane Doe, M.D. Family Practice April 2012 - Present
Medical Biller
• Tripled revenue by instituting better billing practices and changes to office workflow
• Successfully collected $30,000 for the practice by implementing the requirements for Medicare’s EHR Incentive
Program and attesting in 2012 and 2013
• Worked with computer databases to input information and bill more than 10 insurance companies including
Medicare, MediCal, AARP, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and the State Compensation Fund
• Generated bills, letters, and presentations by using Medlook and Microsoft applications
• Interacted with over 500 patients and provided customer service including educating patients about their eligibility
and benefits
XX XX Corps April 2013 - Present
Co-Chairperson & Training Officer Volunteer
• Regularly met with and stayed in contact with other XX officers and volunteers
• Helped allocate a $5000 grant to buy supplies and provide training
• Have been an active general volunteer since March 2010
XX Medical Center, XX June 2013 - Present
Surgical Department Volunteer
• Created and organized charts for patients scheduled for surgery
• Answered phones at the nurse’s station, resulting in nurses spending more time with patients
• Stocked the medical supply room when daily shipments of supplies would arrive
• Wheel-chaired patients from the surgical department to their car after their surgery and recovery was complete

● Calculus 1
● Analytical Geometry & Calculus
● Multivariable Calculus
● Lin Alg & Differential Equations
● Programming Concepts (Java)
Relevant Classwork
● Financial Accounting
● Introduction to Finance
● Intro to Macroeconomics
● Intro to Microeconomics
● Critical Reasoning & Writing
● General Chemistry I
● General Chemistry II
● Fundamentals of Biology
● Physics I
● Physics I

Awards / Honors / Activities

• Outstanding Student in Chemistry for the Academic Year XX-XX at XX College
• Awarded scholarships from XX Vineyards
 15

Q6. You may need to agree to these releases, certifications, and checks when applying to a university, internship, and/or scholarship:
1. A release that says the university may release information to your parents/legal guardian or spouse information about your application.
2. Authorization for the university to release to your present school counselor information about your application related to your admission.
3. A statement that you sign and says that your application and all information you submit for the application process as a transfer student to a
university and as an applicant to a graduate professional school is your own work, true, and honest. That you are responsible for this accuracy.
4. A background check, including social security number search, county criminal records searches, statewide criminal records search, federal
criminal records search, national criminal database search, national sexual offender database search, US Department of Health and Human
Services Office of Inspector General List of Excluded Individuals/Entities search, search for dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces,
international screening, credit report.

a) True
b) False

RSOURCES

http://www.crackingmedadmissions.com/ info@crackingmedadmissions.com
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/personal-questions/transfer/index.html
50 successful Harvard application essays: What worked for them can help you get into the colleges of your choice. Staff of the Harvard
Crimson, 2014
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/
http://calstate.edu/transfer/degrees/
https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/transfer/Pages/default.aspx
https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/applying-medical-school-process/applying-medical-school-amcas/
http://www.pharmcas.org/preparing-to-apply/

Your "To Do's"

( ) Complete the Workshop Evaluation now and turn it in.
( ) Complete the Optional Homework, then get Jane's thoughts on the essay.
( ) Share "FOR OUR “UNSUNG HEROES” below with your spouse, parent, or key supporter.

Jane Binger, EdD, Chief Learning & Strategy Officer, DeepTok. ©DeepTok, 2020. Do not distribute this document via any means without prior written permission of DeepTok.
 16

FOR YOUR “UNSUNG HEROES”—YOUR PARENTS, SPOUSE OR PARTNER, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS & KEY SUPPORTERS

Please discuss this handout with your parents, spouse or partner, and significant others in the language that they speak.
Do Don’t

If your child, spouse, or friend wants to read you a personal essay that tells the story of where he or she started, is Do not say, "I don't know anything about that."
now, and wants to end up, listen to the story. Say what interests you in the story.

You don’t have to understand college info noted in the essay for the student to feel your support of them.
By supporting your child or spouse in college or graduate professional school, you can help pull up the whole
family’s resources. For example, the student can earn more money than he or she would have earned with a high
school or community college degree. See https://affordableschools.net/higher-education-roi/ to learn about
the return on investment
How do you feel about your child going to a 4-year college or a graduate professional school and not being able to
bring home money as soon as you thought he or she would? Research tells us that students who are the first in
their family to go to college often feel great pressure to finish quickly or even drop out in order to start making
money to send home for their parents, brothers, and sisters.
See the information above on the return on investing in college.
If your child lives at home, help the family respect the study space, time, and supplies that your child uses. Do not say: “You should be studying now.” This
is the student’s, not your responsibility.
Offer to watch your children while your spouse studies, works on an application, or writes a resume.
To do well in school, your child or spouse will
Offer to do the dishes on the night before a big test so that your child or spouse can start studying right after the need to learn to manage time in order to get
meal. school assignments done, meet family
responsibilities, and often handle a job.

College faculty will not remind a student to come

to class or do their work.

Your role, as a parent, is to help your son or daughter be a good version of himself or herself. If you don’t believe your child or spouse can
Say “I believe in your applying to the University (or a professional school).” succeed at college or a graduate professional
“I think you will be a good student there.” program, say nothing. Nothing.
“I am proud of you for trying to live your dream.”

Jane Binger, EdD, Chief Learning & Strategy Officer, DeepTok. ©DeepTok, 2020. Do not distribute this document via any means without prior written permission of DeepTok.