Trying to Self-Publish

Trying to Self-Publish This post is also available in a podcast:  https://soundcloud.com/hopeclark/trying-to-self-publish (or click on image at bottom of page). Saw this phrase twice recently, on two different blogs. Trying to self publish. Those words irritate me like fingernails on a chalk board, fork tines on china, grinding teeth.  You get the point. But probably not in the manner I mean . . . the manner I want to hammer home. And I love to hammer home points.People are entitled to self-publish. Of course they are. Ive self-published. Im a hybrid with my nonfiction being self-published (The Shy Writer Reborn) and my fiction traditionally published (The Carolina Slade Mystery Series), and if Carolina Slade ever gets dropped But Ill tell you one thing . . . I wont TRY to self-publish her. Ill go out there, jump in with both feet and damn well DO it. Whats with this trying business? I grasp TRYING to traditionally publish, because there are so many gatekeepers who have to give you that magical nod for it to happen. You TRY because someone else opens the door for you. If they dont open the door, you dont publish, at least with them. Okay, makes sense. But you dont TRY to self publish. I didnt TRY squat when I self-published. I made up my mind to self-pub and did it. Its like being pregnant. You are or you arent. You self-pub or you dont. I think because we have options with self-publishing, you know, without all the gatekeepers telling us what we can do, we call it trying. But when I looked up TRYING in the dictionary, the  crankier I got at those who say they TRY to self-publish. TRY: 1) to make an effort to do something : to attempt to accomplish or complete something. 2) to do or use (something) in order to see if it works or will be successful. 3) to do or use (something) in order to find out if you like it. Thats straight out of Merriam-Webster, honey. In The Shy Writer Reborn, I harp on removing words like BUT, ONLY, NOT, NEVER and JUST from your vocabulary when speaking of your writing abilities and efforts. Its self-deprecating. From The Shy Writer Reborn, page 41: Ever catch yourself studying someone successful, not necessarily rich and powerful, but someone maybe only a few notches above your common quest. In seconds, you allow a sense of discouragement to drape over your shoulders, oppressing you with the idea you cant be that good. You see a familys portrait, love their captured laughter, then hate the fact you are no longer close to your sister. You bite into a cake made in heaven and kick yourself for stopping at the bakery instead of making your pie from scratch. You read a published book in your genre, in a setting youve used, possibly centered around a character not too far distant from your own, and you curse about being too inept a writer to do as well as that author. We hobble ourselves so that others cant point fingers first. If we know we are less than stellar, nobody can surprise us with accusations. Its a way of protecting ourselves from rejection. Id like to add the word TRY to that list of words that hold us back. Avoid disclaimer words. People gravitate to confident people. They dont want to be around people who are TRYING to be good. They want to be around good people. They dont want to read books from people who TRIED self-publishing. They want to be around those who confidently published their book. A favorite saying of mine is simply this: OWN WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO. Pick your path then strike out without looking back. Stomp that trail. March to your drummer. Sling  your writing  into the bright sunshine using all the power and talent you have. Sling it hard. You want the world to read every word. This work is your legacy. You dont try to publishyou publish. You dont try to write wellyou write well. You dont try to promote your workyou promote your work. If you think youve written and edited something worth publishing . . . If you think youre ready to see your work in print . . . If you think youre ready to sell your work with confidence, then do it. Do it loud, hard, with passion. Be not afraid to let the human race know what youve done. The minute you say you are TRYING to do something, I hear hesitation and self-doubt as do agents, readers, publishers, editors, and more. Im telling you, owning who you are and what you do is powerful, and more than a few people will look twice at you, wanting a taste of that youre drinking, because whatever it is, it makes you appear more alive than they are. You can TRY or you can DO. Readers can tell the difference.

Premature Feedback

Premature Feedback We writers are a needy lot. We cant wait for feedback on our work. And in these days of instant communication via email and social media, we seek it earlier and earlier in the process. Some even ask for feedback on their ideas, before writing the first chapter, as if the other person could have a clue. Yet somewhere out there we can find someone wholl tell us its the grandest idea and destined for record-breaking success. Its like planting a seed and asking others how they think the tomato is going to taste. Someone will tell you they bet itll be phenomenal. The problem with seeking premature feedback is timing. First, the idea isnt fully fleshed out, therefore limiting the quality of the feedback. Without more information (i.e., quality of writing, the consummation of the plot), how in the world can the reader even tell? Second, those folks out there lose nothing in patting you on the head and making you feel good regardless of the concept. They recognize youre fragile, seeking validation for something as fleeting as an idea, so they tell you THAT SOUNDS GREAT and move on. Third, its in this introductory period, when you are the least sure of getting into bed with this idea, that you are the most vulnerable. You arent even sure of what you have. You havent lived with the idea long enough, molded and remolded it sufficiently to even have a form. Hold off asking for opinion. The earlier you ask for feedback, the more likely you are to get deterred from what might be your best writing. The best judge of a good idea is you, but only after youve mulled it over for a long while, or tested it Then theres always this possibility. You request feedback on your idea, and three people give it the thumbs down. Frustrated, you throw away a story that through trial and error, a couple rewrites, and dozen edits later could be Harry Potter, Gone Girl, or Murder on the Orient Express. Nobody on social media can make these types of decisions for you. And you are too vulnerable at this early stage to be asking them to help you do so. You are too easily persuaded to take the wrong path, whether you write a work that will never see the light of day or forget about a concept that could be career-setting. The masses cannot make such personal decisions. Take responsibility for vetting an idea long enough, and deep enough, to understand if it suits you. You have to live with it. They dont.

The 5 events that most contributed to the outbreak of the civil war in Essay

The 5 events that most contributed to the outbreak of the civil war in 1861 - Essay Example There are myriad reasons behind the secession and breaking out of the historic â€Å"Civil War† but this has been systematically culminated and mentioned in the book, â€Å"The American Journey† by David Goldfield, Carl. E. Abbot, Virginia Dijon Anderson, Jo Ann E. Argersinger, Peter .H. Argersinger, William Barney and Robert Weir. The five most important reasons behind the break out of civil war that are considered in the book include the end of the Mexican War in 1848, Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, release of Uncle Tom’s cabin, the shock of the Northerner’s at the sight of bleeding Kansas and the attack of the Charles Summer by Preston on the floor of the Senate. All these factors agitated the movement very systematically and chronologically that led to the outbreak of the great Civil War in America. The Mexican War ended in the year of 1848 and consequently America was declared as the ceded region and it paved the way for the initiation of another problem. The new concern was regarding the admission of the states as states and determination of their status as Free States or Slave States. To conclude such dilemma Congress came out with an amicable solution and passed the treaty of â€Å"Compromise of 1850†. Thus, it was decided that California would be made free and the states were allowed to pick up freely between Utah and New Mexico. At an actual plane, this decision to choose freely between the regime of the Free State and the Slave State. This decision to allow the states to choose freely provided a base for the heated up discontentment amid the myriad factions of the society in these states itself and founded the base for the agitation. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was declared as a consequence to the Act of Compromise of 1848. This Act was forcibly enacted on any federal official who were unable to get hold of a runaway slave and were forcibly entitled to pay fine.

College Education in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

College Education in America - Essay Example The college education in the US is marked by diversity, dedication and a quest for excellence. The college education in the United States of America differs from other countries in the sense that it is not regulated by any national system. The colleges and universities in various states of America are governed and managed by state governments. The state universities in the United States are the public universities that are supported by the respective states where they are located. The state universities are the centers of higher education. They also share a deep relationship with the communities where they exist. These universities attract talent from all over the world. The state universities offer graduate and professional degrees. They also offer a range of undergraduate courses. State universities also play an important role in the social, economic and cultural life of the states where they are located. As already said, the college education system in the US is marked by diversit y. This allows the students to enrollee in specific colleges and universities as per their aptitude, budget and mobility. Hence, in the US there also exist private universities. Many of the private universities are held in high regard in the US. Private universities enjoy greater financial flexibility. They do not depend for funding on the states. Actually they are supported by many scientific and professional organizations. Community colleges in the US extend to many students the access to higher education. Community colleges allow students to earn credits for the starting two years of a bachelor’s degree spread across four years. The community colleges not only help students learn in a supportive environment, but also offer quiet affordable tuition costs (Baker 686). They also allow many adults to continue education in a supportive and encouraging environment (Baker 686). In addition, community colleges also host many personal development courses. Many international student s are enrolled in the community colleges every year. These colleges help them understand the basics of American culture. These colleges also help the international students improve their English language skills. Community colleges in the US provide the students with ample support services to help the students with different levels of language proficiencies succeed and grow. The community colleges in the US are also signified by many additional benefits like small class size and favorable students to teacher ratio. In addition they offer a wide variety of programs. The students can easily choose a program or major that suits them well. The also exist universities and colleges in the US that serve minority ethnic groups (Sims 17). These institutions are aimed at serving the needs and requirements of a minority group. Such institutions usually have a historical background. Many of the minority centric institutions serve the academic needs of the non minority students also. It goes with out saying that even today there are minority groups in the US that have been sidelined by the academic initiatives (Sims 18). These minority colleges tend to make up for this lack. These institutions assure that every US citizen gets a chance to realize the American Dream. They also give importance to the specific issues faced by the minorities they serve. It would not be wrong to say that the college education in the US is marked by diversity and

Exploring the Allegorical Nature of the Faerie Queen Essay Example for Free

Exploring the Allegorical Nature of the Faerie Queen Essay An allegory – a form of extended metaphor in which objects, persons and actions in a narrative, in this case, The Faerie Queen, are equated with meanings lying outside the narrative itself – represent an abstraction in the guise of a concrete image, with characters often personifying abstract qualities. One way of looking at The Faerie Queen is that it is allegorical in a complex manner. As a mode of writing in a still largely religious society (15th century England), viewing The Faerie Queen as an allegory allows the reader to perceive nature and history as in possession of hidden divine meanings capable of being revealed to the diligent, worthy seeker. Similar to the concept of a â€Å"sugar-coated pill† The Faerie Queen’s allegorical nature allows the author (Edmund Spenser) to conceal (largely moral) ideas from his readers and reveals them only to a deserving few who are able to go beyond appearances and recognize the truth for what it is. One needs to work hard in unlocking the hidden meanings for comprehension brought about by diligence would be valued more by the human mind than one that is easily understood, i. e. Una had veiled herself until the Red Cross Knight had proven himself worthy of seeing her face at their betrothal. In the case of Duessa, the name itself seems to represent duality, duplicity in contrast to the one (Una) truth, as her role varies from one book to another. In Book I she embodies religious falsehood while in Book V it is political falsehood, appearing in the guise of fair creatures until the facts of her foulness are uncovered much like literature’s Circe the witch and her cup of poison capable of altering her shape in her aim to entice and imprison her lovers. Spenser’s Duessa is distinctly English as she appears to be the fusion of the enchantress Circe with the biblical Whore of Babylon, i. e. Catholicism in the eyes of Protestant (Elizabethan) England. Her role is largely limited to deceiving appearances and seducing the Red Cross Knight, supposedly representing the â€Å"false† religion of the Roman Catholic Church. As for Una, her identity is clarified with vices parodying â€Å"true† religion as she appears to represent the one, noble truth among the wilderness, a ‘woman clothed with the sun’ and whose beauty is a manifestation of Christ’s alluring grace. As the personification of the â€Å"true† Church (the Church of England), she travels with the Red Cross Knight (supposedly representing England as its patron Saint George was said to have been a dragon slayer) in order to save her parents from a dragon. In keeping with the work’s religious tone, Una’s wanderings in the wilderness could be viewed in the biblical tradition as the Church fleeing the antichrist. Upon meeting her, the character of Abessa flees in terror of Una and her lion, which likely represents the justice wielded by Christ through the earthly executors of His will. Una plays the role of the romantic heroine in need of a brave knight to rescue her from a moral and fickle fortune. She is the â€Å"truth† to the Red Cross Knight’s â€Å"nobility† yet they are separated, until such a time when they overcome their respective obstacles and prove themselves worthy of a blessed union. Her character is made to wander, and in Cantos 3 and 6 it is made clear that her progress through the natural world is upward. Her encounter with Arthur helps her better understand her plight and what needs to be done for her to be able to transcend her suffering and misery. In a way, one could argue that Arthur represents divine intervention or simply providence lending a hand to strengthen our moral resolve at the time of darkest human frailty. Whereas Una represents the one truth, Duessa is the living, breathing duplicity in Faerie Queen. The Red Cross Knight as he descends the world of society (Cantos 4 and 5) in the company of Duessa is capable of seeing only surfaces. She is deceptive, but does that make her necessarily evil? There is no doubt that Una personifies the good yet though Duessa might be her antithesis, it is harder to ascertain whether she is out rightly evil or merely duplicitous. After all, human beings certainly err from time to time, we are both deceived and deceivers in our own way, yet we are not condemned so easily as evil personified or offspring of Satan. But since we are talking of allegories in The Faerie Queen written to glorify the reign of Elizabeth I of England, one has to note the seeming need to vilify Catholicism, symbolized by Duessa, as the deceptive enemy to England’s Anglican Church symbolized by Una. Representing truth, Una remains veiled for most of the poem, uncovering herself only when the Red Cross Knight is finally betrothed to her (Canto 12) and when she is all by herself ‘farre from all mens sight’ (3:4). In the same way as that of the House of Holiness, her ‘gates’ remain closed for fear of being raped for her beauty. The rationale for this is that truth as a prize of great worth remains vulnerable to exploitation, epitomized in the image of Una’s virginity, ‘that stubborn forte’ (6:3) which needs to be safeguarded until such time when she is ready to relinquish it to someone worthy of her. When she is finally unveiled, her beauty is described as blinding – ‘The blazing brightness of her beauties beame’ (12:23) – to lend credence that truth is not for the faint-hearted, and in the occasion that it appears to the common people is needs to wear a veil as truth cannot be conveyed directly for it tends to blind its audience. Finally, for all its power truth is clothed in simplicity and naturalness. In contrast to Duessa’s garb of garments ‘gilt and gorgeous gold arayd’ (5: 26), Una enters ‘under a vele, that wimpled was full low. ’ Duplicity is fond of shows and of parading itself – Duessa is set upon a seven-headed beast – yet truth does not need fancy outer garments to conceal its natural splendor. She is able to tame the lion, which recognizes Una’s beauty and goodness and responds to her overtures accordingly, while it seems to be able to discern Duessa’s true nature despite her lovely appearance. 15th century Elizabethan England placed great value on a woman’s virtues, e. g. chastity, fidelity, etc. and this is appropriately manifested by Una who steadfastly safeguards her virginity, in contrast to Duessa who takes great pleasure in seducing men with her feminine wiles. Una represents chaste love which waits for the right time, that is, in the context of marriage, before engaging in sexual liaisons. Duessa is an entirely different matter she takes pleasure in her power over men through her sexuality. Of course for the conservative sexual mores of the time this was despicable in a woman – she would easily be labeled as a whore. A woman during those times was viewed slightly better than property, first as belonging to her father, then to her husband, and her worth in the marriage market was often viewed in relation to her maidenhood, aside from the size of her dowry. Nowadays though, society has a more liberal view on the roles of women, their functions in society and how they are expected to act, and it would be harder to categorically generalize women as simply being the marriageable kind or those whom men should only dally with. Also, the influence of religion has significantly waned – it no longer plays such a central role in the lives of most people. Thus, modern-day interpretations of The Faerie Queen would not necessarily take a kind view of Spencer’s illustration of women, particularly if one utilizes the feminist perspective in critically analyzing the said work. Work Cited: Spencer, Edmund. The Faerie Queen. London: Penguin Classics, 1979.

Clarissas Way of Death Essay -- Samuel Richardson Clarissa Essays

Clarissa's Way of Death In Clarissa, Samuel Richardson finds "an exemplar to her sex." But her story does not provide a model to live by, as such a qualification may lead one to expect. Only in the afterlife does Clarissa presumably receive what she deserves. The life suggested by her example is untenable. Clarissa's death is the inevitable result of her unrealistic, unimpeachable virtue  ­ a virtue that is defined less by what she does than by what she will permit. Her death serves not only a narrative end in the novel, but the demands of psychological realism. Richardson respects the conclusion made inevitable by the very "divinity" of Clarissa's personality. This heroine can have no other conclusion. Her death-drive is a fundamental aspect of her character, one present since the very beginning of the book. Though she is an extremely rational heroine, she is not necessarily reasonable. Like all young people, she wants happiness  ­ but her idea of it is impossible to live, an almost childish fantasy. Her devotion to "the single life" is not only a resistance to an unwanted match, but a refusal to have her purity blemished. Her purity and her virtue are the building blocks of her selfhood, but these elements have been formed in her childhood, and thus are not directly transferable to the exigencies, and duties, of adult life. In defense of this virtue, Clarissa has an almost morbid streak that prefigures her conclusion. There can be no worldly happiness for Clarissa. Lovelace's crime, in a certain sense, is only incidental. Clarissa can never be married, as she can never accept its corollary, adulthood. Growing up implies a change of state that she cannot reconcile with her established identity. It is a shock, upon... ...these "trials" is the confirmation of her "divinity". "The fall of a regular person, no doubt, is dreadful" she writes to her uncle Antony (426). But this is not her situation, not her crime. She herself is not a "regular person", and her fall was not a typical fall: "would to Heaven," she implores later in the letter, "that I had had the circumstances of [my fall] inquired into!" (426-7). Her death is the manifestation of her blamelessness. Death recreates her as immaculate, by proving that a blemished existence is not consistent with her nature. Though she asserts, "I am ruined in my own eyes; and that is the same to me as if all the world knew it" (316), it becomes proof of her transcendence that "all the world" know it. By agreeing to publish her tale after her demise, she has transformed the circumstances of her disgrace into a proof of her greater purity.

Book Report (the Titans Curse by Rick Rordan)

Percy Jackson The Titans Curse In this Percy Jackson and the Olympians book, it starts out when Thalia daughter of Zeus, Annabeth daughter or Athena, and Percy son of Poseidon set out to help Grover who found two really power full half bloods escort them back to camp have blood. But then they run into trouble when this really power monster shows up that works for Cronus try’s to take Bianca and Nico the two really powerful other half bloods. Before there group was about to be defeated Artemis goddess of the hunt and the moon sun of Apollo shows up and rescues them with her huntresses. Also Annabeth saved them but in the process she falls off the cliff and they could not find her, little do they no that she was really just captured by Luke and Cronus, Bianca joined the hunt with Artemis and left Nico at camp half blood to train to become stronger. Artemis left her huntresses to go find the one monster that could destroy Olympus, while trying to find the monster she was captured by Cronus and needs to be rescued before the winter solstice so that she can convince the council that they need to go to war to prevent the titans rise. So a quest was given to Zoe who was the leader of the huntresses that they should go save Artemis before the winter solstice and when she went to go consult the Delphi Oracle it said â€Å"five shall go west hunters and campers combined will not fail one shall be lost in the land without rain and another shall parish by a parents hand. † So since Zoe was the quest leader she got to choose who goes with her, she chose three hunters and two campers but one of the hunters got sick so she couldn’t go so only four of them left for the quest Zoe Bianca, Thalia and Grover but then Percy wanted to go save Annabeth so he snuck off to save her. He ends up meeting up with and saves them from the monster that tries to kill them early. When the got to New Mexico (which is a land with out rain) they go into the gods junk yard and this giant mechanical robot thing comes to life and then Bianca jumped into the robot and defeated it but she was lost and could not be found. They had to go all the way from camp half blood which is right out side New York all the way to California. When they finally go to California the had to go up the mountain of the titans so it is really dangerous also the general is back which is cronus’s number one warrior you no the guy who holds up the sky atlas. When they get up there they see Annabeth laying on the ground over where you hold up the sky and Artemis holding up the sky they also see Luke and Atlas and an army behind them Percy Jackson did the naturally stupid thing and charged Atlas but cause of this curse that was put on Percy his weapon riptide failed him and so he ran over to where Artemis was holding up the sky and took the sky for her so that she could fight Atlas, While that was happening Thalia was fighting Luke after he was defeated by her, he tried to jump at her but her reflexes was to fast and she kicked him off the cliff with was like a 30 foot drop so he should have died but didn’t when Artemis was fighting Atlas she was defeated and before she was about to get seriously hurt Zoe jumped in the way and saved her, which gave Artemis enough time to get up and ready to fight again. In the mean time Zoe was seriously hurt and was about to die and everyone else was about to get defeated but then Artemis kicked Atlas under the sky again and so Percy jumped out of the way and so Atlas was stuck once again under the sky, but there was still a giant army that was surrounding them but out of no where Annabeth’s dad which owned a plane came out and started shooting all the monsters with Celtic bronze bullets which gave Artemis enough time to call down a chariot and so they jumped in to get away. Zoe was still really injured and on her death bed. She ends up dieing and then they find out that Atlas was Zoe’s dad so she perished by a parents hand. When they get back to camp half blood Nico found out his sister died so he got really angry and ran off which on his way finds out he is the son of Hades. Up on mount Olympus on the winter solstice they end up finding the monster which was a harmless cow sea serpent and so if you sacrifice a harmless monster you g ain the power to over throw the gods, Artemis convinces the gods that they need to go to war with the titans.

Drama Part 1 Essay

The piece of Drama we have created is called â€Å"The Fear of the Unknown†. We looked at various ways of interpreting the title before agreeing on a suitable theme. Our story covers the death of a character and studies the reactions of characters in different situations. The actual cause of death is left to the imagination and is never actually mentioned. This links in with the title we were given. I am going to compare â€Å"The fear of the unknown† with the play â€Å"The Woman in Black† by Susan Hill and adapted by Steven Mallatratt. I will also use the Crucible text by Arthur Miller and Blue Remembered Hills text. In the Woman in Black as the actor approaches the house a gobo is shown to show Eel marsh house in the background. The house seems large and foreboding. This helps create an air of suspense with the audience who already have heard about the woman in black. This happens again when the actor approaches the door to the playroom whilst the music plays. Similarly, the actors in The Fear of the unknown create tension whilst approaching the house by talking quietly and discuss the house in their ‘ghost story’. The curse of the Woman in Black is similar to the curse placed on the house where a girl died many years ago. Many other people tell the story of the woman in black. The actor isn’t superstitious so ignores them. He is lucky to escape with his life. In the fear of the unknown Stacey warns Sadie about the curse in the house where the girl died, Sadie believes the story but then still goes in the house, and doesn’t return. This could also be compared to in the Crucible where the suspicion of witchcraft underlies everything. In the beginning of the play many people didn’t even have suspicion of witches. Though the idea there were witches living within a community ate away at the people until people died. Many innocent people ended up hanging for witchcraft. The imagination of characters in the play we performed added to the tension created. This occurred frequently during the piece, for example when Charlie and Sadie appear at the door to Stacey’s party Stacey looks Sadie up and down. Sadie is instantly terrified of Stacey even though this is normal behaviour in her characters case. The same thing happens in Blue Remembered Hills when the siren goes to signal that a prisoner of war has escaped. Every noise sounds like the war prisoner approaching them and all the children believe the prisoner of war would kill them. You can also compare it to the Crucible where everyone suspects everyone else to be witches, and everyone turns on everybody else causing more havoc. To some extent this also happens in The Woman in Black as the actor is met by suspicious and hostile reactions when he attends the ladies funeral. Also everybody in the village believes in The Woman in Black and her terrible curse, this means all the characters would be on edge. In conclusion, I think our drama performance went well, our preparation could have been better but we all had different school activities on, which made it hard to rehearse. Near to the end of our rehearsals we threw one member of our cast out. This put us at a disadvantage but meant we worked better as a group in the end as we were all striving for a common goal. Our original ideas included; Bullying and the consequences of bullying, Relationships, and problems that could never be solved. We decided to work on the events leading up to an unnecessary death.

Are Undergraduates Ready For The Real World Essay Example

Are Undergraduates Ready For The Real World Essay Example Are Undergraduates Ready For The Real World Essay Are Undergraduates Ready For The Real World Essay In the same context of our society today, undergraduate are educated to believe that if they do well in their education now, thefts make it through life finely. On the contrary, the misunderstanding Of this concept can lead to the opposite, to hit rock bottom when they meet the real world. Since we were in pre-school until university, we were to understand that education is most important to achieve success which is a true statement. However, to rely on the education system too much is an unbalanced way of doing things. Instead, students should be more exposed to handling realistic situation such as problem solving skills. Their jack of experiences and humidity may become troublesome when they are trying to get a job in the future. Also, a portion of undergraduates thinks that success is measured by their grades because of the exam-oriented education. They are too focused on studying and memorizing word by word from the text book to stop and think outside the box. This might get you good grades but it does not prepare you for the real world. How are undergraduates going to achieve success and be a leader to the country in the future if they jack the ability to think on their own two feet? Moreover, most undergraduates have ignored outside interaction and does not even bother to get out of their comfort zone. Their communication skills is important for them to ace that interview for a job thieve always wanted. They need to gain confidence and speak up their voices because confident is one of the things people look at for employment. On that note, students need to keep in mind that staying inside their bubble will do no help for them in future. In fact, it may lead to culture shock or inability to find bigger opportunity. As a conclusion, it is up to the undergraduates themselves to be ready for the real world or not. If they decide to keep themselves safe inside the box, they wont go as far as those who decides to step out of the box and explore for bigger and better adventures. What is life without a little risk? Undergraduates should be more independent and think further in the future, the real world, instead of depending on the presence.

How to Get Into USC 5 Expert Admissions Tips

How to Get Into USC 5 Expert Admissions Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The University of Southern California (USC) is a highly ranked private school located in Los Angeles, and, as a result, it draws thousands of qualified applicants each year.If you’re applying here, you are probably wondering what the USC admissions requirements are and what you’ll need to stand out as an applicant. In this article, we explain how to get into USC, offering you specific tips for what you can improve in your application.But first, how hard is it to get into USC? Feature Image: Ken Lund/Flickr How Hard Is It to Get Into USC? USC is a very selective university with an acceptance rate of just 13%- this means only about 1 in 8 students gets accepted. Interestingly, this percentage has fallen by 3% since 2017, indicating a downward trend in USC's acceptance rate, which has decreased in recent years due to a growing number of applicants.In the 2017-18 school year, a record 64,352 applicants applied to USC, out of which 8,339 were admitted. Here's howUSC's official news websitedescribes its student body: "More than a third of the [fall 2018] admitted class are straight-A students, and 60 percent have standardized test scores in the 99th percentile." Looking at this data alone, we can say with confidence that it's generally pretty difficult to get into USC- and it’s growing more difficult every year. So what kind of applicants is USC looking for? Let’s take a look. What USC Looks for in Applicants Because USC is so competitive, and because there are so many applicants applying each year, this school is looking for the best of the best when it comes to applicants. Here’s what USC writes about applicants on its website: "We look for those students we believe will thrive at USC. Our application process is designed to discover your individual story, so that we might see how you would take advantage of the many opportunities available at USC. †¦ We will review your performance in school, the rigor of your program, writing skills and test scores. We also consider personal qualities, as revealed in community involvement, leadership and achievements." In addition to strong numbers (i.e., test scores and grades/GPA), USC wishes to admit applicants with strong "personal qualities."These qualities can be illuminated through either academic or non-academic accomplishments, community service/volunteer efforts, or leadership experiences (for example, maybe you're the captain of the track team or you once organized a successful food drive at your school). As PrepScholar co-founder and perfect SAT/ACT scorer Allen Cheng discusses in his detailed guide to getting into Harvard, USC, like Harvard and other top schools, prefersapplicants with "spikes" in their extracurriculars- applicants with strong passions for specific activities or interests. After all, with USC's more than 60,000 applicants each year, you’ll definitely need something to help your application stand out! Here's how USC describes its most successful students to give you more of an idea of what they're looking for in applicants: "USC students pursue ambitious intellectual and professional goals by studying across disciplines and taking advantage of the diversity of programs available. They are willing to venture outside their comfort zones. They are interested in the world, in other peoples and cultures, and enjoy examining important issues from a global perspective." As you can see, USC is looking for applicants who aren’t just academically gifted but who are also willing to challenge their limits, learn about new fields, and assume a global perspective. Can You Apply Early Action or Early Decision to USC? Unlike many other private and prestigious universities, USC does not offer an early action/early decision plan to first-year students.Therefore, anyone applying to USC must do so by the same deadline (refer to the next section for more information on important dates). While you can’t apply early to USC, if USC is indeed your first-choice school, it's a smart idea to tell the admissions committee this so they can note it in your application.Here iswhat USC admissions expert Joe Beltran specifically recommends applicants doif USC is their first choice: "Students often ask me how they can let the admission office know that USC is their first choice. It’s simple: Just tell us. Tell us in your application, over email, telephone or in person. And we make note of that. We add these things to your files if you ask us to, and we keep them in mind as well."* *Emphasis mine Although you can’t apply early to USC to demonstrate your interest in attending the university, you can (and definitely should) let the admissions committee know about your interest in it so they can take this into consideration as they look at applications. Don't hide your true feelings- if USC is your first choice for college, let them know! Getting Into USC: Logistics and Deadlines All freshman applicants to USC must apply through the Common Application.Here's a checklist of all the major USC admission requirements: Common App USC Writing Supplement (on Common App) Official SAT/ACT test scores- applicants may also submit SAT Subject Test scores, AP test scores, and TOEFL scores (if international) Transcripts showing all high school coursework and any college coursework completed Letter(s) of recommendation- the number of letters you must submit to USC depends on the program/school you’re applying to Additional materials, such as a portfolio, writing sample, or resume (only if required by your specific program/school) Fall grades- these can be submitted via the Mid-Year Report Form on the Common App As indicated above, certain schools and programs at USC require additional materials from applicants.The following table shows the schools and programs that require supplementary documents and information (in addition to all the components listed above): School/Program Required Supplementary Materials School of Architecture Portfolio, Architecture Writing Supplement Roski School of Art and Design Art/Design Essay, list of creative experiences, portfolio Iovine and Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation Proposal video, portfolio, interview (if selected) Marshall School of Business - World Bachelor in Business Program Video introduction, World Bachelor’s Business written prompts (on USC Writing Supplement) USC School of Cinematic Arts* Personal Statement, writing sample, creative work sample/portfolio, creative portfolio list, video sample, image essay, audio portrait, autobiographical character sketch, creative challenges, "Most Challenging Moment" task, project questions Glorya Kaufman School of Dance Portfolio, dance resume, short answer, additional information (optional), two video solos and descriptions, live audition (if selected) USC School of Dramatic Arts* Headshot, drama resume, "Take Three" image task, letter from drama teacher/coach, essay questions, creative submission, audition videos, live audition Thornton School of Music Portfolio, music resume, repertoire list, introductory video (certain majors only), audition recording, live audition (if selected) Resident Honors Program** Essay questions, short answers, counselor nomination form *Exact supplementary materials required for admission will vary depending on the major. **This program is only open to high school juniors. Now, let’s take a look at all the major USC deadlines, ordered from soonest to latest. December 1, 2018 Freshman application deadline for merit scholarship consideration (note that this is not an early action or early decision deadline) Freshman and transfer application deadline for the following schools/programs: Dramatic Arts (all programs) Cinematic Arts and Music (all programs) Kaufman School of Dance Iovine and Young Academy World Bachelor in Business (WBB) program January 15, 2019 Freshman application deadline (this is the regular freshman application deadline without merit scholarship consideration) February 1, 2019 (For freshman applicants)Last day by which merit scholarship notifications will be sent out Transfer application deadline for all other programs February 13, 2019 (For freshman applicants) Financial aid deadline for FAFSA and CSS profile applications March 4, 2019 (For transfer applicants) Financial aid deadline for FAFSA and CSS profile applications April 1, 2019 (For freshman applicants) Last day by which final admission notifications will be sent out May 31, 2019 (For transfer applicants) Last day by which final admission notifications will be sent out (For transfer applicants)Last day by which scholarship status notifications will be sent out Heed these next tips so you can be the happy face. USC Admission Requirements: 5 Tips for Getting In Now that you know the logistics of applying, let’s take a look at how to get into USC.What do you need in your application to increase your chance of getting into USC, one of the most prestigious colleges in the country? #1: Get a High GPA Admitted applicants to USC typically have very strong GPAs. For the fall 2018 class, the average (unweighted) high school GPA was 3.79/4.00.This means that the majority of admitted applicants had relatively strong grades, getting mostly or all As and possibly a few Bs. If your GPA is below 3.79, you'll most likely have a more difficult time getting into USC. Therefore, it’s best to aim as high as you can, preferably at least around a 3.85, so you will be well above average but won’t suffer too badly if you get a B in one or two classes. If you’re having trouble maintaining a high GPA, figure out which classes are bringing down your grades and then consider spending more time studying for those classes or hiring a tutor to give you the extra support you need. #2: Have a Rigorous, Challenging Course Load Another important aspect USC wants to see in applicants is evidence of a strong and challenging course load.Ideal applicants will have taken a fair share of AP, honors, and/or IB classes. Here's how USC describes its ideal applicantson its undergraduate admissions website: "No specific curriculum is prescribed or required, though students offered admission typically pursue the most rigorous program available to them in English, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign language and the arts. Careful attention is paid to preparation for the intended major." In addition to doing well in classes, strong applicants will have excelled in a rigorous academic program, particularly in classes relevant to their intended majors. If you’re a junior or younger and haven’t taken any challenging courses yet, try to sign up for some AP, honors, or IB classes the following academic year and for each subsequent year you’re in high school. It’s best to choose challenging classes that focus on the fields in which you’re already strong or have a large interest in studying.For example, if you’re a science buff, you could take AP Bio or AP Physics. While you don’t need to make every class you take a super hard one,aim to take about three to five upper-level classes each school year, at the very least starting your junior year.This doesn’t necessarily mean you must take the AP tests that go with these courses, though it’s not a bad idea to do so since it might earn you some college credit! Strong test scores- and possibly super strong back muscles- will definitely catch USC's eye. #3: Earn Strong SAT/ACT Scores In general, USC expects fairly high SAT/ACT scores from strong applicants. Below are the middle 50%, or average, score ranges*for both the SAT and ACT for the fall 2018 USC freshman class: SAT Composite: 1400-1530 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW): 680-750 Math: 710-790 ACT Composite: 31-35 English: 33-35 Math: 29-35 *The lower score in each range is the 25th percentile (meaning 25% of applicants or fewer got this score), and the higher score is the 75th percentile (meaning 75% or fewer got this score). Clearly, you’ll need to have a pretty high SAT/ACT score in order to be considered a competitive applicant to USC.For the SAT, most applicants have a minimum score of 1400, or the 94th percentile nationally. Meanwhile, for the ACT, most applicants have a minimum score of 31, or the 95th percentile nationally.In other words, you’ll need to score in the top 5-6% of test takers in order to meet just the 25th percentile score at USC. Although getting a score below USC's 25th percentile threshold doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be rejected, it does indicate that it’ll likely be harder for you to get into USC unless you have other significantly impressive qualities. If you don’t meet this "minimum" threshold (1400 on the SAT and 31 on the ACT), the best course of action is to try to raise your SAT/ACT score.One way todo this is to make an SAT/ACT study plan that caters to your weaknesses.I also recommend checking out our guides for sometips on how to increase your SAT or ACT score. If you prefer having more hands-on guidance in your test prep, consider using our online SAT or ACT prep program, which is 100% customized to your test-prep needs and includes realistic questionswritten by real top scorers. #4: Write Excellent Essays In addition to the Common App essay, you're required to write two shorter essays as part of the USC Writing Supplement.Each essay must be no longer than 250 words, or about half the length of a typical college admissions essay. For the first USC essay, you must choose one of three prompts to respond to: USC believes that one learns best when interacting with people of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Tell us about a time you were exposed to a new idea or when your beliefs were challenged by another point of view. Describe something outside of your intended academic focus about which you are interested in learning. What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you? Choose the prompt that appeals to you the most and that you'll be able to respond to easily and effectively. For the first prompt, you shouldwrite about a specific incident in which a belief or opinion of yours was challenged.The key here is to focus on your reaction and what this particular incident taught you about yourself.This could be a political stance, a religious belief, or a personal opinion on a social issue. The second prompt is all about a field outside your intended major that you’re also interested in studying.This is a great opportunity to discuss how you became interested in this particular field and what you might do with it in the future.For instance, perhaps you plan to major in computer science but have recently realized, by taking a required art class, that you also have a strong interest in learning more about the history of paintings. The third essay prompt is quite broad and allows you to talk about anything you feel is important for the USC admissions committee to know about you.You could introducea specific interest, skill, or experience you have, or even offer an explanation for a problem in your academic record, such as a dip in your grades one semester or a below-average SAT score. A great tip to remember as I write my best-selling novel you write your USC essays. In addition to this first essay, you’ll have to write a second essay for the USC Writing Supplement. This essay only has one prompt (so you don’t get a choice here!): Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. This essay prompt simply wants to know what you plan to major in at USC and how you'll achieve your academic goals as a student. Basically,what's the intellectual path you expect to take at USC? For instance, if you plan to major in English, you could write about how you intend to take a more interdisciplinary approach by integrating foreign literature classes into your course load. Overall, in order to ensure you’re submitting two excellent essays to USC, be sure to use specific details, be honest about your experiences and feelings, and edit and proofread each essay before sending it in.Get more expert tips by reading our guide to the USC supplement (coming soon). It’s also important to note that some programs and schools require additional essays or short answers.For example, those applying to the School of Architecture must answer extra questions in the Architecture Writing Supplement. These school-specific essays are just as important as, if not more than, the three general USC essays you must write.Why? Because these essays ask you even more specific questions that relate to your intended field of study.Thus, you'll need to be able to clearly explain exactly why you’re interested in the field/program/school you're applying to. #5: Craft an Impressive Portfolio (Required for Certain Programs) Some programs at USC require the submission of creative portfolios along with the more general requirements listed above. If a portfolio is required,it’ll likely be one of the most important parts of your application. Make sure your portfolio follows all instructions, is 100% original, and is emblematic of your own creative mind, abilities, and goals. Here are all the schools at USC that require the submission of a portfolio: School of Architecture Roski School of Art and Design Iovine and Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation USC School of Cinematic Arts Glorya Kaufman School of Dance Thornton School of Music What’s Next? USC is a great college in California, but it's not the only one there!If you want to attend college in the Golden State,you'll benefit from learninghow to apply to the UC schoolsand getting info on thecheapest colleges in California. How does USC's selectivity compare with those of other top colleges? Get the answer in our guide to the most selective schools in the nation! USC likely isn't the only school you're applying to. Check out our guides to learn more about how to get into Columbia and how to get into NYU. Want to get into USC or your personal top choice college? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

The Nature of Truth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Nature of Truth - Essay Example Charles Darwin suggested the theory of evolution, by natural selection. He collected multiple pieces of evidence to support his idea so that he can make the idea realistic to the people. After looking at all the evidence, he came up with the conclusion that the theory of evolution was the beat explanation that he could come up to support the discoveries that he found during his research (Scott, 2008). The history of all living things is usually documented in the multiple lines of evidence, which form a convergence and tell the story of life as time passes. The first piece of evidence of evolution is found in fossil remains that have been discovered in time. These fossils serve as snapshots of history, and they are used to illustrate the evolutionally changes that have taken place over time. Fossil remains started being discovered as early as in the seventeenth century. Each new fossil that is discovered brings new clues as to the understanding of human history (Scott, 2008). Other evidence ids brought about by the study of embryology and the observation of similarity between species. Embryos of early vertebrates look similar. These species differs in their genetic structures due to the genetic changes that every organism undergoes so as to adapt to the environment, evolution was also brought about by natural selection where nature choose the beat species that are best adapted to the environment (Scott, 2008). The theory of evolution is supported by many pieces of evidence; Biogeography is the study of a number of species in an area over a given period. This study gives the idea that if the evolution theory is true, then species that are related should be found in the same geographical area this is in the exemption of the animals that have a high mobility rate like birds (Scott, 2008). There are other theories that are against the theory of evolution. These theories include the creation theory, the big bang