This document provides college preparation advice for students. It discusses why students are capable, how to research college requirements and apply, and tips for interviews and essays. Students are encouraged to make lists of their experiences and accomplishments, research colleges and required application materials, and practice mock interviews. Financial aid options like scholarships are also covered, along with resume and LinkedIn tips. The goal is to help students effectively communicate their strengths to colleges.

1. “College...
are YOU ready for US?”
College prep for TxT’ers

2. Today
• Why do you kick ass? (Experiences)
• How to get where you want to go (Colleges & Req’s)
• Show why you kick ass (Interviews)
• Tell why you kick ass (Essays/Personal Stories)
• BREAK
• Get that Money (Scholarships)
• Hit ‘em with (digital) paper (Resume/LinkedIn)

3. Why do you kick ass?

4. What have you done?

5. So...
Write all your experiences down that show:
- Skill
- Ability
- Knowledge
Include results
- How many?
- How often?
- With who?
- By who?
- For who?
- Where?
GO TO COLLEGE TODAY

6. How to get where you want to go?

7. Side Note: Letters of Rec
Ask someone that:
- Knows you and/or your skill set well
- Is a figure of authority
- Will likely say great things about you
- Knows your quality of work
Give them:
- An email w/ link & details
- An envelope & a stamp
- Resume, narrative

8. So...
Let’s look for the best schools by:
- Program/Major
- Overall
- Most...???
Create a list of “what” by “when”:
- Application
- Essays
- Letters of rec
- Fee
- Waivers
- Scores
GO TO COLLEGE TODAY
Collect the links/documents
& make a packet

9. Show why you kick ass
I owned this interview!

10. Interviewing tips: Before it
Find out:
- Who your interviewers is (social media is your friend)
- What the organization is about
- Details of position/scholarship
Prepare:
- Look up common interview questions
- Think about possible questions they could ask
- DECIDE what you want them to think about you
-Visualize the entire interview over and over again
- Do mock interviews with friends/family
- ID your strengths, weaknesses, achievements, goals, etc

11. Interviewing tips: Go Time
Day of:
- Give yourself time, don’t rush
- Do something relaxing, exercise, chill, sleep an extra 15 mins
- Iron your shirt, pants, suit, w/e.
- Have copies of your resume, paper, pen, ready to go
- Get your game-face on
Once there:
- Stop at the bathroom, check yourself out
- Breathe, take a second, visualize you kicking ass
- Review your interviewer’s name(s)
- Mental checklist of top 3 things you need to get across
- Go kick ass

12. So...
MOCK INTERVIEW TIME!
- 2 groups
- 1 of interviewers, 1 of interviewees
- Write down feedback for each other
- Switch
Things to think about:
- Posture
- Confidence
- Clear answers
- Hand gestures
- Tone, pace
- Is he cool?
GO TO COLLEGE TODAY

13. Get that money

14. Where to find scholarships?
So many places!
- Fastweb.com
- Collegenet.com
- Collegeprowler.com
- Collegeboard.com
- FAFSA.gov
Who gives them?
- Foundations
- Corporations
- Private businesses (retail, restaurants, B2B)
- Universities/Scholars programs
All kinds of entities!

15. So...
Google Doc Time!
tinyurl.com/URBANTxTScholarships
- Search for scholarships
- Add links, req’s, deadlines
- Search for additional resources
- Make personal list of To-Do’s & ideas
I don’t always Google Doc
But when I do, it’s a party
Things to think about:
- Do you qualify?
- If you get it, are you committed to...?
- Where else can you get aid from?
- Make personal list of To-Do’s & ideas

16. Anatomy of a Resume
Juan Sebastian Vasquez
juansvas@gmail.com | 754.367.1033 | Los Angeles, CA
Professional Development
Communications Coach / Director of Communications March ’13 – Present
URBAN Teens eXploring Technology Los Angeles, CA
• Coach 31 teens in social media, digital communications, and public speaking as part of summer coding and business development academy
• Assist CEO and leadership team with strategic partnerships, community outreach, recruitment for coding academy and social enterprise model
• Manage Facebook and Twitter communities, generating a 50% increase in fan/follower count in first two months with organization
• Serve as main point of contact for press and media contacts, arrange interviews, and write blogs and press releases covering URBAN TxT news
Digital Outreach Director & Field Organizer November ’12 – March ’13
Emanuel Pleitez for Los Angeles Mayor 2013 Campaign Los Angeles, CA
• Developed digital organizing, communications strategy and handled $100,000 media budget
• Created bilingual content for and managed communities on Facebook, Twitter, campaign Web site (CMS) and two blog sites discussing Los
Angeles politics, the candidate’s expertise and background, relevant community organizations, issues in education and more
• Organized first ever mayoral Google+ Hangout, a community event focused on technology, and candidate appearances at community events
• Supervised and managed Digital Outreach Team, which included a Deputy of Digital Communications, a Social Ambassadors team and volunteers
• Spoke in English and Spanish with thousands of voters through canvassing, community events, social media and general community outreach
Account Executive January ’12 – November ’12
On Ideas, Inc. Jacksonville, FL
• Managed accounts in the tech, insurance, health and economic development industries using print, TV, digital, mobile, radio, social and events
• Worked with agency's leadership team to create strategic partnerships, communications plans, marketing strategies, positioning statements, etc.
• Assisted new business team with proposal writing and growing relationships with leads and prospects
• Managed digital development project that exceeded previous levels of interaction by 45% for a personal goods brand
• Oversaw South Florida casual-dining chain, resulting in weekly sales increase as high as 12%
Account Coordinator June ’10 – November ’11
Benedict Advertising Daytona Beach, FL
• Served as main point of contact for clients and third parties, and facilitated communication between Media, Creative and Accounts departments
• Planned concerts, open houses and a health fair for the YMCA, which included 5 sponsor, 27 event partners, generated over $15,500 in
in-kind media support and collected $2,000 in donations
• Developed direct mail campaigns with trade show and digital tie-ins, resulting in 10% – 22% response rate
Writing Coach & Translator June ’08 – March ’12
Self-employed
• Assisted international students in translating text and concepts for essays in various classes, including English, Creative Writing, International
Relations, Government, History, Critical Thinking and others
• Conducted one-on-one teaching sessions showing correct ways of formatting, wording and presenting ideas and essays
• Worked with international students from South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia on over 600 essays
VP of Public Relation May ’11 – November ’12
Toastmasters International Club 1134 Dayton Beach, FL /Jacksonville, FL
• Worked with leadership team to established club’s Facebook page, Twitter handle, blog strategy and community outreach program
• Delivered a minimum of one speech per month, served roles in every meeting and competed in 5 contests over two-year period
• Reached Advanced Communicator Bronze level (total of 20 speeches delivered) with plans to continue with TM program
Education and Skills
University of Florida, B.S in Advertising Class of 2010
Business Administration Focus Gainesville, FL
Additional work experience and references available upon request
Who are you & how do I get ahold of you?
What have you done, what did you
learn, what were the results, how long
did you do it for, and where?
Where did you go to school (and how
did you do?)?
Disclaimer:
There are many resume formats.
You should build yours so that it fits
the “industry” AND
you should be comfortable with it.
IT WILL EVOLVE ASYOU EVOLVE.

17. Resume & LinkedIn: Why?
- A tool for you to work with
- Shows you can be trusted to execute
- Shares skills, knowledge, expertise, experiences
- Paints a picture of what you’ve done with your time
- Outlines the type of person you are
Show that you kick ass
& that you are amazing!
- Blueprint for professional you can be
- Points to your priorities
- EVERYTHING positions you in
the best light possible

18. So...
Let’s build a resume:
- Formatting comes later
- Go back to your list of experiences
- Choose a few & start breaking them down
- Add results for each
Things to think about:
- HOW,WHAT,WHO,WHERE,WHY
-YOU = BEST. THAT’S IT.
- Show skill/knowledge through results
- Resume evolves like you do
LinkedIn is a growing
resume that can show as
much or little as you want.
PLUS recommendations.