College Success
Volunteering can help you determine what fields interest you. This can be beneficial if you are unsure of what paths/fields you want to go into or even if you have multiple interests. Now that you know why volunteering is important, where do you start? At first it can be overwhelming because there is no “right” way to begin volunteering or where to look. Look no further! Let’s Go has created this blog to guide you through some steps you can take to find a place for you!
How to Volunteer
- Think about fields that interest you. Medicine, education, law? After you have a vague idea, you can begin searching! It does not have to be super specific (remembering that volunteering is for exploring).
- Use Google to find organizations near you! A simple google search can reveal cites you may have been unaware of entirely. Try something as simple as “immigration law office near
Explore your interests
If you’re still unsure of your interests, you can volunteer to start narrowing your focus. It’s a good idea to expose yourself to what’s out there. In addition, employers and graduate schools alike value experience strongly; the sooner you find a sector/field to grow in, the more impressive you can be!
Develop Skills
Now it’s time to enhance your skills! When you begin volunteering, you may find that your responsibilities grow. You will develop skills that school is sometimes unable to teach you. Additionally, these skills are often transferable and can be taken with you at multiple jobs!
Boost your resume
Not to mention, volunteer experience looks great on your resume. It lets employers know that you care about local organizations! Also, it is a good idea to begin volunteering during your high school years or early college years so that you can eventually begin applying for paid internships.
Make connections
Organizations and companies have tons of connections. belonging to these networks will allow you to have connections within this field that can lead to bigger opportunities.
Let’s Get Started
- First, find your interests:
- Brainstorm the fields that interest you.
- Then, google organizations near you:
- Use Google to find organizations near you! Try something as simple as “immigration law office near me.”
- Finally, send emails:
- Now, go to their website and email them to ask about volunteer opportunities.
- After finding a contact email, try a template like this:
Template for sending an email
This is just one example to get you started! In addition, you can also search up templates for free on Google.
” Hello [person you are addressing]!
My name is [your name] and I am a current [grade level] at [your school]. I am writing to express interest in your organization/company. I have always been interested in [the field the organization is in]. Is there space at [organization/company name] for me to volunteer with your day-to-day tasks?
I would love to chat with you about myself and my current abilities. I look forward to hearing back from you!
Best,
[your name] ”
Ultimately, volunteering helps you gain experience! You got this. Best of luck! Go put yourself out there!
Mental Health & Self Care
The freeing feeling that comes with finishing your last final… IT’S SUMMER TIME! You get all excited and now finally have time to catch up with old laundry, cleaning and binge watching that show that has been on your list all school year. But then it hits you, what else can you do for fun and explore? We have curated a list of fun things that you can do this summer!
Find a Park: Find your local beach/park (or maybe plan a road trip!) and enjoy the outdoors.
2023 Southern California Events and Festivals Fairs: Here are their dates and where they will be this summer/incoming fall. We can smell the turkey legs and fried-everything already.
If you’re still unsure, here is an extensive list of other fun ideas!
25 Best Things to Do in California (2023): Still unsure? Here is a miscellaneous list of what to do this summer, find one that best fits you.
Remember, you do not need to go all out to enjoy your summer. Something as simple as packing up a quick snack and sitting outside can help you re-energize by taking in that Vitamin C! Additionally, it is IMPORTANT to take a break to recharge from the school year. We know you worked your butt off and to prevent burn out, remember to take a deep breath and relax.
Let’s Go wishes you a safe and fun summer!
HS & First Year Students
Applying to college can be overwhelming as there is not one application for all schools. Many different schools and systems require different applications and it could be challenging to keep track of all of the details and requirements. College Unfiltered is introducing “A Guide to Creating a College Application”, to help fellow high school seniors with college applications as well as how to choose your college and major. Other information that you can find includes the personal essay questions found on the common app, tips for international students, and more information on the coalition app.
For access to the full toolkit, visit College Unfiltered’s website.
HS & First Year Students
What draws you to an institution? Is it their prestigious name, the fact that they serve first-generation college students, or how diverse their student population is? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself when deciding where to apply to college/university. College Unfiltered (CU) has put together a toolkit to help you find and choose a university that best suits you. “All About Value” discusses an important resource: College Scorecard. College Scorecard is a website created by the U.S. Department of Education and it allows applicants to compare colleges on standardized metrics. Other factors to take into consideration when choosing an institution include whether you are a first-generation student, as well as what ethnic background and identity(s) you hold . College Unfiltered discusses all of these factors and more on their toolkit.
For access to the full toolkit, visit College Unfiltered’s website.
HS & First Year Students
When choosing an institution to complete your higher education, there are several factors that you need to consider. One of them being the financial aid and scholarship options available to students. College Unfiltered (CU) created “Let’s Talk Money”, to help you develop your financial literacy during the college application process. Here, CU talks about several topics ranging from loans to endowment, and misconceptions of estimated family contribution (EFC).
- Endowment: Monetary and financial asset donations from alumni and companies to colleges and universities. Most endowment money is used to fund public research, teaching, and some is allocated to funding scholarships and grants.
- Scholarships: Money that does not need to be repaid! You can find scholarships through your institution or outside sources.
- FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application to receive financial aid from the federal government. FAFSA will also help you find your expected family contribution (EFC), this number determines your eligibility for certain types of financial aid.
- Loans & Generational Debt: Money that does need to be repaid.
For access to the full toolkit, visit College Unfiltered’s website.
