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Friday the 13th -- Is Bad Luck Ruining Your College and Career Chances?

Posted on Apr 13, 2012 - 05:00 AM | College Prep | Comments (0)

When bad things happen it’s easy to say, “I have bad luck.”

Didn’t get into the college you want? “Things never go my way.”

Bad SAT score? “I have no luck with tests.”

AP class you asked for closed? “If I didn’t have bad luck…”

Those are tempting excuses, but bad luck is often no more than a case of missed opportunities.

Missed Opportunities in College Prep

Let’s examine three scenarios to see how missed opportunities – and not bad luck – shape your future.

Advanced Placement classes. You miss an AP class because too many students sign up before you do. It’s full. Your guidance counselor says he’ll let you know if there are any openings, but you’re not hopeful. This isn’t bad luck; it’s a result of poor planning; of not knowing you needed that class the year before. If you had developed a class plan earlier, say in 8^th or 9^th grade as you entered high school, you would have been much more likely to get into this class. You would have known to apply early.
Leadership in extracurricular activities. Colleges love to see leadership in activities, clubs and organizations among their applicants. It’s a sign of people who can to contribute to campus life. But if you don’t join an organization early, you’re never going to lead it later. Leadership gives your college application a hook, but it also requires planning.
Low SAT or ACT scores. Your college exam scores come back lower than expected. Lower than the 1721 the average college grad gets. You’re worried, but since you didn’t put much emphasis on SAT or ACT prep, it was to be expected. You missed a chance to improve your scores through practice questions, timed practice tests, long-term and short-term strategies, critical reading, vocabulary builders and more. Fortunately, this is a missed opportunity that can be easily fixed –sign up for online SAT prep designed to improve your score,

Overcoming Problems That Aren’t Your Fault

Sometimes you’re just in a bad situation, such as an overcrowded or underfunded school, where teacher and guidance counselor layoffs hurt your education. Maybe you’re the first person in your family to consider college and don’t have anyone to guide you through the system. Maybe you’re school doesn’t offer AP or college prep courses. Whatever your situation, you can overcome it – if you act.

Get access to some of the core elements of college prep – SAT or ACT prep, selecting and comparing colleges, financial aid advice and scheduling the proper classes. Take advantage of private guidance if you need to. Otherwise it could be one of those missed opportunities you refer to as “bad luck” – and no rabbit’s foot, four-leaf clover or horseshoe can save you.

Everyone faces a little bit of bad luck and some major setbacks – the key is to keep going, even if you need a little help. Of course, if you really think a rabbit’s foot will improve your SAT score, bring it along. It can’t hurt. But it also can’t replace good SAT test prep. Not taking the steps you need to improve your scores can hurt you.

Just don’t call it bad luck. Call it missed opportunities. And then throw some salt over your shoulder.

To make sure you don’t miss any opportunities, enroll in college prep today!

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