Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were the first institutions to open their doors to black Americans. The first HBCU was founded in Pennsylvania in 1837 and would later come to be known as Cheyney University.
Today, the prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement and our alumna Vice President have heightened the exposure of HBCUs. They’ve been a clear contributor to the enrollment spike that many of these schools are experiencing, despite the declines that PWIs (Predominantly White Institutions) have endured. COVID-19 proved that institutions would need to be flexible in their approach to managing the “new normal,” so they turned to online courses, virtual events, and a strong digital-first approach. As the country reopens and life resumes, we want to explore what universities will take with them.
“You are accepted” are the three words that college applicants want to hear. If you attended or considered attending college, you likely remember the college application process. Your high school years were a defining moment. You used this time to prepare for life after graduation. You worked to pass your classes and earn high grades. You spent your summers visiting colleges and taking test preparation courses. Next, you got involved with sports, clubs, and community service. During your junior year, you began to submit applications. You were required to mail previous school transcripts, test scores, and perhaps a personal statement. You might have even provided letters of recommendation. Finally, the hard work paid off. As a senior, you began to receive college acceptance letters. Everyone’s preparation is different, and every applicant has their own story. Just like that process, there are many other places in life that we want to be accepted into. I will discuss how to get accepted into college and in life in my newest book, “You are accepted: How to get accepted into college and life.”
by Carjamin Scott on September 26, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. CST
For the past several months, I have intensely focused on improving my mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Instead of relying on my phone calendar, I bought a paper planner to write down the things that I want to do for myself. I renewed my gym membership. I have been listening to chakra and meditation music. I have been attending bible study. And, I try to ride my bike at least three times a week. I’ve decluttered my social media and I only like or comment on things that speak to my new normal.
The social media algorithm working to collect this data is amazing, and not by accident, my Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter feeds have realigned to support me on this journey. This is how I found “Write Your Vision, Motivated” by Steve Harvey. Isn’t it great when you hear things at the right time and they seem to remind you that you are doing the right thing?
In it, Steve shares two scriptures (James 4:2-3 and Habakuk 2:2) that helped to change the course of his life.
James 4:2-3 You have not because you ask not.
Habakuk 2:2 Write your vision make it plain.
Then, Steve challenges the audience to meditate on the things we want from God and he gives guidance on how to imagine these things coming to fruition.
300 Wishlist Challenge
Here are the instructions for the 300 Wishlist Challenge
Write down everything you want.
Write at least 300 things. At 75, you might get stuck so begin to ask yourself a few questions.
How many cars do you want?
What kind of car?
What color?
Where do you want your next house to be?
Do you want a summer home?
Where do you want to travel to?
How much money do you want in the bank?
How much would you like to have when you retire?
How much would you like to give your siblings?
Read your list every night and every morning.
Visible Vision Board
Here are the instructions for Visible Vision Board:
Take a photo of your vision board, this is your signal to God of what you want Him to do for you.
Save the photo as your phone and computer screen saver to make your vision board visible and easily accessible.
Today, I am asking you to join me for Steve Harvey’s #300wishlist challenge. Grab a notebook and write down everything you are asking God for. Try to get your list done by the New Year, then let’s check in with each other to see what we’ve marked off our list.
You are Accepted: How to Get Accepted into College and Life
Carjie Scott provides a first-hand account of her experience as an administrator serving at trade schools, graduate institutions, and HBCUs. You are Accepted, is required reading for first-generation college students and higher education professionals. It encourages readers to own their story and accept themselves so that they can transform education for individuals who were historically excluded from attending college.
Enter code “Bulk15” to receive 70% off of your order of 5 or more autographed books.
LinkedIn is a social media website that individuals use to showcase their work experience and network with industry professionals. Recruiters use LinkedIn to find top talent and fill job openings.
If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile and are interested in furthering your career, chances are you could be missing out on opportunities to get noticed by employers. Use these tips to get started.
Introduction
Like the name implies, the intro section is the first thing individuals see on LinkedIn. Here is how to use this section to give a great first impression.
Profile Photo – Your profile photo should be a professional business headshot. Since this is a business professional site, you should not use group photos, photos of objects, or any sort of distorted selfie images.
Headline – Picture your headline as, “I am great at this, this, and that”. Or these are the best three adjectives to describe my career title. Or this is my title currently. Basically, your headline is a short statement or phrase with a few adjectives to describe your work interests and abilities. While you are considering ideas, it is fine to simply use your current work title as your headline.
Location – You should include your current or targeted location in your profile so that recruiters are able to determine where you are.
About – Your about summary can be written in a number of ways. The main objective is to tell a story about your career profession and goals.
Articles, Posts, Activities, and Interests
Most people don’t realize the value of the articles, posts, activities, and interests sections; however, when utilized strategically, each can help you get noticed on LinkedIn.
Articles – Consider writing an article and publish your knowledge on LinkedIn. This is a great way to engage with your network and showcase your subject matter expertise.
Posts – You can repost articles on LinkedIn. When reposting, you should provide a short summary of the article to entice your followers to read what you’ve reposted.
Activities – Every article or post you comment, like, or repost lands in the activities section of your LinkedIn profile. Be strategic about the content you engage with on your page. Recruiters and your current company can see what content you are engaging with. Try to avoid engaging in any activity (ie. far reaching politics, controversial topics,) that could jeopardize your ability for promotion or a new opportunity.
Interests – The companies, groups, and schools that you follow or belong to land on the interest page of your LinkedIn profile. You should join and follow organizations that reflect your interests and affiliations.
Background
The background section should detail your work experience, education level, and volunteering accomplishments. Recruiters will use this section to determine if your skills align with their job openings.
Experience – The experience section on your LinkedIn page is probably the most important section to complete if you want to sell yourself to employers. In this section you want to include the name of your company, your employee title, length of experience, and a job description. The job description section can be completed in many ways. Some examples I’ve seen have included bullet points of accomplishments or a short summary. It’s important to use keywords that employers are searching for no matter which method you choose when completing the job description section.
Education – The education section on your LinkedIn page should include schools attended, length of each program, activities while enrolled, and a description. For recent graduates with no work experience this section is essential to showcase what you’ve done during your education career. Uploading media such as presentations and grades are helpful to employers interested in learning more about your accomplishments while enrolled in school.
Volunteering – The volunteering section on your LinkedIn page is useful for employers to learn about the organizations that you are invested in. List your role, mission, length involved, and a description of the organization you are involved in.
Use these tips to get started on your LinkedIn profile. Contact me to present these tips and more.
