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- š¦ Today's Scoops: Did someone say free scholarships?! (Oct 30)
š¦ Today's Scoops: Did someone say free scholarships?! (Oct 30)
Learn more about supercharging your apps with dabbL, check our our newest resources in the Link Lounge, get some direction on answering PIQ 1, and take a deep dive on UC Merced.
Scholar Scoops Admin
October 30, 2024
Good morning folks! Hereās what we have today:
Scoops Special: DabbL
Link Lounge Refresh
School of the Day: UC Merced
Essay of the Week: UC PIQ 1: Leadership
SCOOPS SPECIAL
Free AI-powered college counseling, essay reviews, and free scholarships!
On the cover, dabbL looks like just another AI-powered college counselor fit into a web and mobile appābut, weāve been using the app for some time now and itās clear to us that itās much more than that. dabbL feels like it was completely built around the student experience, featuring tools all the way from Essay Review for each college youāre applying to a job board to find high school specific openings. Perhaps the best feature though is the community aspect of the appāyou can invite your friends and then share updates on your high school journey along the way.
As if that wasnāt enough, dabbL is also giving out $3,000 randomly in scholarships over the next three months, and all you have to do is use the app. Talk about a win-win. Learn more about the giveaway on their website.
*A message from our sponsor.
LINK LOUNGE
Itās Wednesday, which means new links!!!
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. Youāll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.
(NEW) DabbL - free AI-powered college counseling, essay reviews, and free scholarships!
(NEW) Algoverse - get published in top journals and do cutting-edge AI/ML research with industry professionals and Ph.D. researchers
Bank of America Student Leaders - prestigious paid summer internships for juniors & seniors
DECA Scholarships - over $200,000 scholarships for DECA members
SCHOOL OF THE DAY
UC Merced
Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.
š Location: Merced, CA
š Student Body: 8,373 undergrads
š Acceptance Rate: 91.7%
š Average SAT/ACT: 1080/20
šø Tuition: $13,791 (in-state), $43,863 (out-of-state)
š
Admission Options: Regular Decision (December 2)
š Top Ranking Programs: Public Health (#99), Chemistry (#140), Physics (#183)(Niche)
š Most Popular Majors: Engineering (25%), Psychology (19%), Biological and Biomedical Sciences (17%) (US News)
Some Positives
š Growing Campus Community: UC Merced is Californiaās youngest UC campus and has seen impressive growth, fostering a close-knit community with plenty of unique opportunities for student involvement. Explore UC Merced.
š Research Opportunities: From environmental studies to computer science, UC Merced provides ample research prospects for undergrads, especially due to its location near Yosemite and focus on sustainability. Research Programs.
šµ Affordable UC Tuition: Compared to other UCs, UC Merced often has a lower cost of attendance with financial aid options and scholarships. Tuition Details.
š Focus on Sustainability: UC Merced was the first American university campus certified as carbon-neutral, making it an ideal school for environmentally conscious students. Sustainability Initiatives.
š Supportive Faculty: UC Mercedās smaller student-to-faculty ratio fosters close mentorship with professors, which benefits research and academic guidance.
š§āš¤āš§ Diverse Student Life: With numerous cultural clubs and campus events, UC Merced emphasizes inclusivity and celebrating diversity.
š§Ŗ STEM-Focused Campus: As a tech-forward university, UC Merced offers advanced resources and labs, particularly for engineering and biological sciences students. Engineering Programs.
Some Negatives
šļø Rural Location: Located in Merced, the campus is far from major cities, which might limit nearby internship opportunities and entertainment options.
š Transportation: With limited public transportation options, students might find it challenging to get around without a car. However, shuttle services are available for nearby areas.
INFO ZONE
Upcoming Visits and Info Sessions
Duke Virtual Admissions Session - Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 1:00 PM until 1:45 PM
Caltech Virtual Coffee Chats - Thursday, October 23, 2024 at 4:00 PM until 4:45 PM
Columbia Engineering Student Q&A Chat - Friday, October 25, 2024 at 2:30 PM until 3:30 PM
UChicago First Things First: Young Alumni - Monday, October 28th at 4:00 unti 5:00pm CDT
ESSAY OF THE WEEK
UC PIQ 1: Leadership
Hopefully, most of you have finished the supplemental essays for your early round of applications. I know that most likely, the next big deadline for you all is the UC application deadline, which is coming around on December 2nd, so I figured what betterās than doing another UC PIQ for our Essay of the Week. Today, weāre looking at UC PIQ 1.
Prompt: Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. (max 350 words)
Shoes stomping on concrete in an awkward rhythm and sweat dripping from my jaw, I labored across the finish line. I stood tall, sticking my chest out only to realize that I was the last finisher. Just as men drive Ferraris to flaunt their power, being the fastest runner in middle school meant respect from boys and giggles from girls. Belly jiggling, I ran away from taunts being hurled in my direction.
At the nadir of my physical strength and confidence, I joined my schoolās basketball team in hopes of winning my middle school crushās heart. Although I initially set out with love in mind, I quickly realized that the basketball court wasnāt a simple concrete ground; it was a harbor where I could train my body and prove my budding athleticism, boosting my self-confidence.
As a former player returning to serve as basketball coach 2 years later, I had a unique perspective compared to my colleagues, giving me a unique leadership advantage: unlike older coaches, I was close in age to my players, allowing me to better connect with them. I understood that young boys thrived on competition, so I focused on team scrimmages, which encouraged my players to play fiercely against each other. While other coaches relaxed on the sidelines, I stood in the center, shouting words of encouragement. Instead of telling my players to run one measly lap, I personally led them on half-mile runs, insisting that running was important because it teaches mental perseverance alongside physical fitness. As a leader, I practiced what I preached, doing pushups as punishment on the rare occasions I was tardy.
Despite being an ambitious basketball coach, I had realistic expectations for my players. After all, these boys didnāt aspire to play professional basketball, so I understood there were more aspects to sport than demonstrating excellence. Realizing that there is much perseverance and dedication involved with basketball, I utilized the sport as a method to nurture my players into responsible young men. In contrast to the large number of absences at the beginning, attendance was perfect at the seasonās end.
Source: Winning Ivy Prep
Our Thoughts
This essay shows us the transformation of a student who started with personal insecurities but, through his journey with basketball, learned to become a positive, influential leader. Hereās what makes it shine:
Beginning with a Personal Experience
This essay hooks us with a relatable scene: feeling inadequate and struggling with self-esteem. By showing the initial struggle, the student sets up a foundation for us to see real growth. Itās both personal and vulnerable, a good way to draw readers in.Clear Transformation and Unique Leadership
The transition from an insecure middle schooler to a confident coach is clearly outlined. By returning to the same basketball team as a coach, he shows a unique form of leadershipāleading not from above but alongside his players. This is especially effective because it highlights empathy as a leadership quality, showing he genuinely understands the experiences of his players.Leading by Example
The essay does an excellent job emphasizing leadership through action. Instead of just telling the players what to do, the coach does it with them, whether itās running laps or taking on punishments. This type of leadership is more relatable and powerful because itās built on shared experience and respect.Emphasizing the Impact: Growth in Players and Hitting Personal Goals
While the initial goal might have been self-improvement, the essay shows that the applicantās focus shifted to the teamās growth. The essayās ending drives this home, with a powerful contrast between early absences and full attendance by seasonās end, underscoring the impact of his leadership.
Overall, this essay captures the essence of the prompt by showing the studentās growth as a leader and his dedication to othersā development. Itās a great example of how a story of personal challenges can transform into one of influence, respect, and positive impact.
DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Might be time to start submitting (but you know that)
In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1
UDub Deadline: November 15
THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?
You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com
IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
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Is there a question youāve been dying to have answered related to college admissions? Or, is there something just nagging you about Scholar Scoops that you want to see fixed soon? We want to hear from you. You can submit feedback at https://forms.gle/7Rj2eBCiauEc5oNV8. Thank you so much!