Help Them Find Good Extracurricular Activities

Attending and participating in class is an important part of college, but it’s only part of the experience. The most well-rounded college students generally seek out extracurricular programs and activities that teach them soft skills that are harder to learn in a classroom setting. For example, a student can learn valuable leadership skills by volunteering in the community. They can also gain public speaking skills by participating in student leadership.

Encourage your child to think beyond the classroom. Talk to them about their interests, and help them look for local groups that engage with those interests. Periodically, check in with them about the skills they’re learning through their extracurricular experiences. You may even want to tell them some stories about similar learning opportunities you had in college.

Encourage Them to Apply for Scholarships

College can be expensive. That’s no secret! Of course it’s nice if you can afford to help your child with their college expenses, but everyone’s financial position is different. Regardless of your own finances, you can help your student with the financial aspects of college by encouraging them to apply for scholarships.

Many student advisement offices keep lists of scholarships students can apply for. Your student can also gain access to additional scholarships by joining an honor society such as NSCS. Not only does NSCS help students find outside scholarships, but we also offer many exclusive scholarships just for members. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, and in most cases, they are open to students in any major or degree program. Encourage your child to join an honor society and apply for any scholarships for which they are eligible.

Talk About Mentorship

Another key to success in college is finding a good mentor. Encourage your child to attend their professors’ office hours, talk to alumni who work at local companies, and attend networking events. Many students eventually meet someone who becomes their mentor by participating in these experiences. Students can also find a mentor through an honors society like NSCS.

A mentor is someone who can answer your child’s career specific questions and give them personalized guidance along the way. They can help a student prepare for interviews, recommend classes for them to take, and even help them connect with other professionals in their chosen field. If you had a good mentor during your college years or early career years, tell your child more about that experience. Personal stories of this sort often help students understand the value of good mentorship.

Every college student has to forge their own path towards success. Your child’s path may look a lot like your own, or it may not. In either case, you can support them along their journey by encouraging them to branch out, find a good mentor, and apply for scholarships. NSCS is here to help, too. We support our members as they pursue excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.

Many of the internships we are able to arrange for students are unpaid. Understandably, students often ask, prior to applying, whether an unpaid internship is really worth it. Our answer is a resounding “yes.” While an unpaid internship does not come with a paycheck, it does help prepare students for their careers in some very meaningful ways.

Here are some of the key reasons to pursue an unpaid internship:

College Credit for Real World Experience

College coursework is important. However, the most successful students are usually those who pursue real world experiences in addition to formal coursework. Participating in an unpaid internship usually allows you to receive college credit for real world work. If you’ve taken enough classes to satisfy your major requirements but still need to round out your semester, participating in an internship is a great way to diversify your college education. 

Soft Skill Development

There are a lot of so-called soft skills that employers like to see in new hires, and that students often need a little practice developing when they enter the working world. These skills involve clear communication, timeliness, goal setting, and self-evaluation. An unpaid internship is a great opportunity to start developing and deepening these soft skills. In fact, many internship programs are specifically designed to help students develop these soft skills.

Developing good soft skills through an internship will make you a better job candidate once you graduate. It will also make your first few months in the workforce easier as you won’t have to scramble to develop these skills for the first time.

Inside Experience in Your Chosen Field

Attending college in a certain field is often quite different from working in that field. For instance, studying engineering is different from working as an engineer. In an unpaid internship, you get to experience what it is really like to work in your chosen field. Maybe you’ll discover you love it and want to continue down this path. Or, maybe you’ll discover that there is a different career field you’re more interested.

There is nothing wrong with broadening your horizons and changing direction while you’re still in college and learning. For many students, it’s an unpaid internship that prompts that change.

Networking Opportunities

One of the very best reasons to seek an unpaid internship is for the networking opportunities. Participating in an internship is a great way to start building a network of professionals in your chosen field. Many students find great mentors through their unpaid internships. These mentors are able to help them find jobs, introduce them to other business owners and thought leaders, and offer personalized career advice.

Students who graduate with an established network usually have an easier time finding their first professional jobs. References from supervisors and managers you meet during your internship can be really helpful, too.

At first, an unpaid internship may not sound that appealing. However, it’s important to remember that these programs do pay off in a lot of tangible ways. If you’re looking for internship opportunities, consider becoming a member of NSCS. We offer a number of life-changing internships exclusively for our members.

So, should you accept an unpaid internship? In many cases, the answer is “yes,” but it really depends on your circumstances. Here are some things to consider as you decide whether an unpaid internship is right for you.

Will the internship open a path towards a paid position?

In many cases, the internship you accept will be unpaid, but it will open the door to a paid position down the road. A lot of companies that hire unpaid interns are clear about this. They may tell you that a certain percent of their entry level hires have been interns. They may even have a specific program by which interns can transition directly from the unpaid internship to paid positions. If the company you’re applying for has not shared this type of information with you, feel free to ask. While you don’t want to make things “all about the money,” employers do understand that everyone needs a paycheck eventually.

Will the internship help build your network?

Networking is an important but often-overlooked step in the college experience. It’s often your network who helps you find that first paid position once you graduate. If you already have a strong network, then you may not need to take an unpaid internship. But if you’re like most students and have a rather short list of professional contacts, accepting an unpaid internship is one of the best ways to start making important connections. 

Is the internship in the field you want to work in?

If the internship is not in a field you’re really passionate about, or if it is only tangentially related to what you want to do for a living, then it may not be worth accepting without pay. On the other hand, if you really want to work in a certain field and this internship is directly in that field, you’d be silly to say no. Nothing compares to direct experience working in a specific field. Even if the internship is unpaid, the experience you gain will help build your resume and make you a more competitive applicant in that field.

Do you have other ways to support yourself?

“Working” without pay as an unpaid intern may not be the smartest choice if you don’t have other ways to pay your bills. If you are trying to avoid taking out more student loans and you’re living independently, you may need to seek out a paid internship instead. Alternatively, see if you can find an unpaid internship that only requires a few hours of work per week. This way, you still get the networking and skill-building benefits of an internship, but you should have time to also work a paying job on the side.

Unpaid internships can be great opportunities for students who are looking to enter a certain field, build their networks, and enhance their professional skills. At the same time, they are not the best choice for every student. Consider the points above as you decide whether or not to accept an unpaid internship position. 

Start with an outline.

Scholarship essay instructions generally give a word count or page count. For example, the application may request a 500-word essay. You don’t want to reach 450 words and realize you left out some important details. This is best avoided by outlining your essay before you begin to write.

Your outline should break your essay down into main paragraphs. It should also specify the key points you’ll introduce in each paragraph. It’s a lot easier to check information off your list and move key points around in outline format. Once you’re happy with your outline, you can put pen to paper!

Cater to the audience.

If you know who will be reading the essay, use that to your advantage. For example, if you’re applying for a scholarship from a sports association, you know the people reading your essay are likely athletes. You may want to include more sports references in your essay and reference your own athletic experiences. The reader is likely to prefer applicants they can relate to.

Follow the instructions.

Scholarship essay instructions are not suggestions — they are requirements. Those reviewing your essay will pay close attention to how closely you followed the instructions. They may immediately exclude you if your essay does not meet the requirements. So, take guidelines like word count, prompts, and formatting rules seriously. Double-check that your essay follows all the instructions before submitting it.

Write a strong introduction. 

Your introduction is your opportunity to make a good first impression. You want it to hook the reader and make them want to read more. You also want it to accurately summarize what the essay will be about. Consider writing several versions of your introduction. Ask your mentor or a peer to read them and tell you which they find most compelling. 

Show emotion.

Scholarship essays are your chance to “get personal.” The rest of the application will be pretty dry and factual, but in the essay, the organization is usually looking for you to get more emotional. As such, it is okay, and even encouraged, to show your feelings.

Use plenty of adjectives in your writing. Don’t hesitate to describe how an experience made you feel. It’s normal to feel a little vulnerable when writing scholarship essays, but you’ll become more comfortable pushing that boundary over time.

Use examples.

Another way of saying this would be “show, don’t tell.” Scholarship essays that tell a story, describe what happened to you, and illustrate your points with specific examples tend to get more attention. For instance, instead of saying “I’ve been passionate about history from an early age,” you could say “I started collecting history books when I was eight, and by the age of 12, I was spending an hour every night reading about Abraham Lincoln.”

Writing scholarship essays can be time-consuming, but the more you write, the more skills you’ll develop. Follow the tips above, and don’t hesitate to re-use scholarship essays when possible. With a few simple changes, you can often make the same essay fit multiple applications. What’s most important is that your essay follows the instructions, shows your personality, and teaches the reader something unique about you. 

Here are some of the key ways in which the NSCS experience opens doors for students seeking employment.

Internships

An internship is an invaluable part of the college experience. In an internship position, students get to continue learning, but in more of a workplace setting. Not only will an internship teach you skills and knowledge necessary for a certain industry, but it will also help you develop softer skills such as clear professional communication and confident leadership. 

NSCS offers a number of internships that are available only to members. These internships are in a range of fields, from political science to international relations. NSCS can also help you find an outside internship. Through networking, you may connect with a leader at a company you’re interested in interning for. Or, your peer mentor may point you towards and internship they once held.

Sometimes, internships lead directly to paying jobs after graduation. Other times, simply being able to list an internship on your resume opens doors to bigger, better positions.

Networking

Most people land their first job by connecting with someone in their network. Building a network can be a struggle, at first, and most students need a little guidance as they develop networking skills. NSCS members gain that experience, and they also start building their networks from day one.

When your network finds out you’re ready to look for a job, they can forward you opportunities they know of. Members of your network who you have worked with in the past can also serve as references and help you prepare for interviews. Having a solid network is like having your own cheering squad as you enter the workforce.

Service Opportunities

One of the Three Pillars at NSCS is service. To demonstrate service, our students generally volunteer in the community, often alongside organizations such as YMCA. But these service opportunities do not just exist to benefit the community. They are also an opportunity for NSCS members to gain experience organizing groups, working as a part of a team, and collaborating with diverse partners.

Students who gain experience through service are better prepared to enter the workplace as leaders and collaborators. Your service experience is a great item to include on your resume, and it may be what sets you apart from other applicants.

Leadership Development

Have you ever considered serving as an NSCS chapter leader, or perhaps as a member of the National Leadership Council? Students who take advantage of these leadership opportunities graduate with far more leadership experience than the average college student. This often qualifies them for management and supervisory roles that might otherwise take them several years to be promoted into. The better you develop as a leader, the more doors will open for you.

Every student aims to find a meaningful, rewarding job, either before or after graduation. NSCS membership can help prepare you for your job search, giving you both the experience and the soft skills that employers in every industry are looking for. Consider joining us as a member, and see how your own career blooms.

As a college student, you are undoubtedly working hard to make the most of your academic experience and build a strong foundation for your future career. One way to enhance your college experience and give yourself an edge in the job market is by joining the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS).

Founded in 1994, NSCS is a non-profit honors organization that recognizes and celebrates high-achieving undergraduate students. Membership in NSCS provides students with numerous opportunities and benefits, including:

1. Leadership Development: NSCS provides students with leadership development programs and opportunities to help them develop the skills they need to succeed both in college and in their careers.

2. Scholarship Awards: NSCS offers scholarship awards to its members, helping them offset the cost of tuition and other expenses associated with attending college.

3. Networking Opportunities: NSCS hosts numerous events and activities designed to connect members with one another, as well as with alumni, leaders in their field, and other professionals. This can be a great way to build relationships, expand your network, and gain valuable insights and advice from experienced professionals.

4. Career Resources: NSCS provides members with career resources and support, including resume and cover letter reviews, job search advice, and more. These resources can be especially valuable for students who are just starting out in their careers and looking for guidance and support.

5. Recognition and Honor: By joining NSCS, you are demonstrating to others that you are a dedicated and accomplished student. This can be a great way to gain recognition and respect from others, and to build your reputation both on and off campus.

In addition to these benefits, NSCS also offers members access to exclusive discounts and perks, such as discounts on textbooks, insurance, and travel.

In conclusion, if you are a college student who is dedicated to your academic and career success, then joining the National Society of Collegiate Scholars is a great way to get ahead. With its numerous benefits, opportunities, and resources, NSCS can help you achieve your goals and succeed in all areas of your life. So why wait? Join today and start taking advantage of all that NSCS has to offer!

Most of our members ask this question at some point because they are intelligent, inquisitive people who like to learn the facts before they jump into something. We commend that, and we encourage you to learn all you need to know before deciding whether to join NSCS. But we also need you to know: joining an honors society is worth it. Joining NSCS will open doors for you, both as a student and as a graduate. Here are some of those doors.

Internship Opportunities

Internships are in high demand, especially in fields like political science and communications. When you join an honors society like NSCS, you get access to internships that other students may not know about or be given access to. Being a member of an honors society also looks good on an internship application. After all, companies want to hire high-achieving interns who go above and beyond.

Leadership Development

Leadership skills are a real asset when entering the workforce. Employees with good leadership skills tend to advance faster and experience greater job satisfaction. You don’t gain a lot of leadership experience attending college classes. However, honors society activities tend to focus on developing leadership skills. In fact, it’s is one of the Three Pillars of NSCS.

Read about Chapter President, Milla Miller, at Western Washington University. NSCS has challenged Milla and helped her to develop her leadership skills, that she plans to carry with her long after her college experience.

Mentorship

Have you ever wished you could sit down and talk to someone about your career ambitions, your college courses, and your dreams? What you’re looking for is a mentor, and joining an honors society is a great way to find one. NSCS opens doors for students by pairing them, either formally or informally, with mentors in their chosen field.

Mentorship does not just serve you as a student, either. Many honors society members remain in touch with their mentors for many years after graduation. Some even go on to work for or with their mentors.

Networking

As an honors society member, in addition to mentors, you’ll meet other people who become part of your network. Some will be peers. Others will be recent graduates, and still others will be professionals working in your field or a related field. These will be the people who help you find jobs once you graduate. They’ll serve as your references, help you prepare for interviews, and talk to you about your options as a recent graduate.

Networking is a key to success in almost every field. When you join an honors society, you not only start building your network, but also learn the necessary skills to keep building your network as you advance in your career.

Collaborative Skills

Many college students stay isolated within their major and don’t often collaborate with people who have different areas of expertise. This all changes when you join an honors society and work alongside students of many different majors. This experience will prepare you for the working world, where it is typical for different professional to collaborate.

Is joining an honors society right for everyone? Maybe not. But if you would like to build a network, learn to lead, discover new internship opportunities, and practice collaboration, then joining an honors society is the way to go. NSCS goes above and beyond to ensure we open these doors, and others, for our members. 

So, how do you prepare for an internship interview? Start by reviewing the following questions, which are very commonly asked. As you review these questions, start formulating answers. Write answers down, revise them, and ask a mentor or peer for feedback.

Why are you interested in this internship?

The interviewer will want to know what drew you to this particular internship and what motivated you to apply. When you answer this question, you can talk about your interest in the particular field, but also be sure to talk about the future. Mention your long-term goals, and describe how you feel the internship can help you meet them.

Describe a situation in which you took on a leadership role.

Companies want to hire employees — even interns — who are not afraid to step up and lead. That makes this question a common and important one. In preparing for your interview, think back over various leadership experiences you’ve had as a student and NSCS member. Which one was most instrumental in your growth? Try to include some examples of ways you helped motivate team members, keep the group organized, and work towards a common goal.

What is one challenge you were able to overcome?

We learn the most by facing our challenges. In asking you to describe a challenge you overcame, the interviewer is looking for a few things. They want to know how you act when faced with adversity. They also want to know what skills you have to face challenges. When answering this question, try to include plenty of details about the steps you took, how you worked with a team, and what you learned in the process.

What is your biggest weakness?

Most of the interview is typically spent talking about your strengths, so this question can trip up a lot of candidates. Everyone has a weakness, and it is totally okay to admit it in this case. However, you should follow up by describing what you’re doing to overcome that weakness. For instance, you could answer the following:

“I struggle to seek help when I’m insure how to do something. I am trying to be more proactive about asking questions the moment I realize I’m unclear.”

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

You can look at this question as a chance to highlight an experience or accomplishment that has not yet come up in the interview. Or, if you feel you’ve already discussed your most important experiences, you can answer this question in a way that tells the interviewer a bit more about you as a person. For example, if you’re a serious tennis player, you could say,

“I am proud of my many academic accomplishments, but if I’m being honest, I am most proud of winning the 2020 Tennis Tournament with my team. We worked hard all season, and it paid off. I really learned how important persistence and teamwork are, both on and off the court.”

If you take the time to prepare, an internship interview does not have to be intimidating. Review the questions above, prepare good answers, and walk in there with your head held high. An internship is just the beginning of a successful career in your chosen field.

Your mentor can share their knowledge.

You don’t know everything. Nobody does — and there is nothing wrong with that! The thing is, there are people who know more than you about your chosen profession and the path to get there. Ideally, your mentor should be someone who has walked that path before you. They have gained a lot of knowledge along that way, and they can share that knowledge with you. It is often easier to gain knowledge through a chat with someone who can relate to you than by wading through countless lectures and books. Yes, lectures and books are important — but they don’t always deliver the more practical knowledge you can get from a mentor.

You’ll have someone to ask questions.

As mentioned above, it’s normal to have lots of questions in college. If you have a personalized mentor, you always have someone you can ask these question. This not only gets you the answers you need, but also gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have someone to turn to. Many college students come to feel comfortable asking their mentor questions they may not ask their average professor or parent.

Your mentor can keep you focused.

With so many different opportunities available to you in college, it’s not easy to know which ones best serve your path. It’s far too easy to lose focus and end up concentrating on experiences that were not as important. A mentor can help keep you focused. They can remind you of your goals and help you discern which steps are most apt to help you achieve those goals. If your mentor sees you straying in your focus, they can reach out and help you get back on track.

Your mentor can help you make connections.

There’s an old adage that says, “it’s not what you know, but who you know.” Rote knowledge is important, and you certainly want to be well-versed with the academic information used in your industry. However, it’s also important to network and make connections. It is these connections that will help you find jobs, move up in your career, and grow in your profession. Your personalized mentor can help you begin to network. They may personally introduce you to others who they think you should meet. They may make you aware of certain networking events you should attend, or informational interviews worth having. Think of your mentor as your tie to the industry you wish to enter.

Personalized college mentoring can really help round out and improve your college experience. If you’re looking for a mentor, consider joining a college honors society. Most honors societies have structured mentoring programs. They may also help you connect with other alumni in your field who are willing to talk with you and mentor you as you navigate your college years.

Once you apply for an internship, the next step is often to participate in an interview. This is an opportunity for the company to learn more about you, and for you to learn more about the company and the internship. So, how do you make sure you ace your internship interview and land that position? Here are a few key tips.

1. Pay attention to your nonverbal communication.

Your nonverbal communication and body language says more about you than you might realize. When you meet your interviewer, give them a firm handshake. Look them in the eyes, and maintain eye contact throughout the conversation. Pay attention to your posture, too. Sitting with your chin up and your shoulders back makes you appear confident, which will give your interviewer confidence in you.

2. Give examples when answering questions.

The interviewer may ask you how you collaborate with others, how you stay organized, or how you tackle difficult projects. When answering this type of question, always try to include an example. In a college internship interview, it is normal and expected to pull examples from class projects you worked on, extracurricular activities, or volunteer activities. Giving an example helps show the interviewer how you use certain skills, rather than just telling them.

3. Emphasize transferrable skills.

When interviewing for a college internship, you don’t always have a lot of skills related directly to the position. This is understandable since the internship will likely be your first opportunity to develop these job-specific skills. What you should have, however, are transferrable skills. These skills are those that can be used in a wide range of positions and situations. Communicating clearly, problem solving, and organizing teams are examples of transferrable skills. Speak extensively about these skills when asked questions about your skillset, what you can bring to the company, and so forth.

4. Ask clarifying questions, if needed.

If an interviewer asks you a question and you are not quite sure that they mean or what kind of answer they want, ask a clarifying question or two. This accomplishes two things. First, it ensures you provide the type of answer the interviewer is looking for. Second, it shows the interviewer that you want to understand and are not afraid to ask questions to deepen your understanding.

5. Emphasize improvement when asked about your weaknesses.

Interviewers will almost always ask you about your weaknesses. You can answer this question honestly. However, it is important to then include some details about steps you’ve taken to address you weaknesses. This shows that you’re aware of your shortcomings and are working to improve them, which is something interviewers want to see in an intern.

6. Prepare questions in advance.

Remember, this interview is your chance to ask questions, too. Prepare a few in advance so you’re not caught off-guard when asked if you have any questions. Good questions to ask include:

• What is the company culture like?
• Do interns directly participate in the company’s projects?
• What skills have successful past interns had?

If you keep the tips above in mind, you should have no trouble acing an interview for your first college internship. If you practice a few times with a friend, you’ll grow more confident. By the time you arrive at the actual interview, you’ll feel relaxed and well prepared.