Running Your Scholarship on Cirkled In: A Guide for Administrators Switching from Going Merry Scholarships and Financial Aid Looking for scholarships to share with your students? Search scholarships here. Want the full story on why Going Merry s... Read More
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Common App Essay Prompts: Question 4 College Applications and Admissions Common Application Essay Prompt 4: Turn a surprising moment of gratitude into a story a... Read More
Common App Essay Prompts: Question 3 College Applications and Admissions A visual guide to Common Application Essay Prompt 3, focusing on challenging beliefs, questioning ideas, critical thinki... Read More
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The New 4-Year Limit on International Students Is an American Problem College Applications and Admissions A rule aimed at foreign students will raise tuition for domestic families, drain local economies, and push more colleges... Read More
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Robert Childs – $2,500 “No Sweat” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories Cirkled In is thrilled to announce our Spring 2026 “No Sweat” $2,500 Scholarship winner— Robert Childs. Robert is a youn... Read More
Moving Forward Together: Cirkled In’s 2025 Achievements & 2026 Vision Cirkled In Specific As we kick off 2026, we’re taking a moment to reflect on 2025—a year of meaningful growth and innovation at Cirkle... Read More
NACAC 2025: 7 Key Takeaways to Boost Student Success and Strengthen College Enrollment College Applications and Admissions Explore 7 key takeaways from NACAC 2025 that are shaping college and career readiness. From using portfolios as high-imp... Read More
How Does the New H1B Visa Fee Impact Higher Education? Cirkled In Specific The new $100,000 H1B visa fee isn’t just an immigration policy change — it’s a potential disruptor for U.S. higher educa... Read More
Celebrating Excellence: Meet Hena Neziric, Cirkled In’s $2,500 No Sweat Scholarship Winner! Student Success Stories At Cirkled In, we love celebrating student success—and today, we’re excited to introduce our Spring 2025 $2,500 No Sweat... Read More
From Internship to Mentorship: Building Lasting Relationships with Supervisors & Colleagues Internships and Job Opportunities You successfully completed your internship, gained valuable skills, and hopefully made a good impression. That’s g... Read More
The High School Athlete’s Guide to Finding Flexible Internships/Jobs Internships and Job Opportunities Being a dedicated high school student athlete takes incredible time and commitment – practices, games, travel, training,... Read More
Documenting Your Internship Experience for Your Portfolio & Future Resumes Internships and Job Opportunities You dedicated time and effort to your internship, learned new things, and contributed to projects. That’s fantasti... Read More
Alternatives to Traditional Internships: Research Assistantships, Volunteering Abroad, Summer Programs Internships and Job Opportunities Internships are often seen as the gold standard for gaining experience during high school and college. But what if you c... Read More
Handling Difficult Situations at an Internship (Mistakes, Conflicts, Unclear Tasks) Internships and Job Opportunities Internships are fantastic learning experiences, but they aren’t always perfectly smooth sailing. You might make a ... Read More
What to Wear: Internship Dress Code Decode (Virtual & In-Person) Internships and Job Opportunities You landed an internship interview or the internship itself – great! Now comes a practical question: what do you wear? N... Read More
Building an Internship Wishlist: Researching Companies & Roles That Excite You Internships and Job Opportunities When it’s time to find an internship, it’s tempting to apply to every posting you see. But a scattered appro... Read More
Informational Interviews Specifically for Finding Internship Leads Internships and Job Opportunities Informational interviews are excellent tools for general career exploration. But you can also use them strategically wit... Read More
Making the Most of Your First Week at an Internship Internships and Job Opportunities You landed the internship – congratulations! The first week sets the tone for your entire experience. While it’s n... Read More
Internship Offer Etiquette: Accepting, Declining & Negotiating (If Applicable) Internships and Job Opportunities Getting an internship offer is exciting news after all your hard work applying and interviewing. But how you handle the ... Read More
Preparing for Technical Internship Interviews (Coding Challenges, Portfolio Reviews) Internships and Job Opportunities So you’ve landed an interview for a tech internship – awesome! While you’ll likely face standard behavioral ... Read More
Government & Public Service Internships for High School Students Internships and Job Opportunities Are you interested in how laws are made, how communities are run, or how public programs work? A government or public se... Read More
How to Get Internship Credit (High School or College): Understanding Requirements Internships and Job Opportunities Internships provide amazing hands-on experience. Sometimes, you can even earn academic credit for that work, essentially... Read More
Asking for an Internship When There’s No Formal Posting (Cold Emailing Strategy) Internships and Job Opportunities Searching for internships often involves scrolling through job boards and company websites looking for formal postings. ... Read More
Unpaid Internships: Navigating the Ethics & Ensuring a Valuable Learning Experience Internships and Job Opportunities Unpaid internships can seem like a way to gain valuable experience, especially in competitive fields like non-profits, m... Read More
Turning Your Part-Time Job (Retail, Food Service) into Resume Gold Internships and Job Opportunities Many students work part-time jobs in retail stores, restaurants, coffee shops, or grocery stores. While these jobs might... Read More
The High School Freshman/Sophomore’s Guide to Pre-Internship Experiences Internships and Job Opportunities Are you a freshman or sophomore just starting to think about careers or future internships? It might feel like formal in... Read More
Virtual Internships: Finding Legit Opportunities & Making Them Count Internships and Job Opportunities Internships are great for gaining experience, but what if you can’t relocate or prefer working from home? Virtual ... Read More
Micro-Internships & Short-Term Projects: Gaining Experience Without a Full Summer Commitment Internships and Job Opportunities Getting real-world experience is important for college applications and figuring out your career path. But maybe a tradi... Read More
Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: Building a Sustainable Self-Care Routine That Works for You Mental Health and Well-Being You hear “self-care” all the time — maybe you picture spa days or fancy treats. But what is self-care, really? It’... Read More
Navigating Family Expectations & Mental Health: Finding Balance & Communicating Needs Mental Health and Well-Being Parents usually want what’s best for their kids — and that often comes with high hopes and expectations, especially arou... Read More
Gratitude Practices for Teens: Simple Ways to Boost Positivity & Perspective Mental Health and Well-Being Life can feel overwhelming sometimes, especially when your focus shifts to what’s going wrong or what you’re missing. Bu... Read More
Talking to Friends About Mental Health: How to Support Each Other Responsibly Mental Health and Well-Being Seeing a friend struggle with their mental health can be really tough. You want to help, but it’s not always clear how. ... Read More
Finding Mental Health Resources Online: Reputable Apps, Websites & Helplines for Teens Mental Health and Well-Being The internet offers tons of resources for learning about mental health and getting support. From informational websites ... Read More
How Sleep Deprivation Impacts Your Brain, Mood & Grades (And How to Fix It) Mental Health and Well-Being Between school, homework, activities, social life, and maybe even a job, finding time for sleep can be tough. But skimpi... Read More
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Creative Outlets for Stress Relief: Art, Music, Writing & More Mental Health and Well-Being Feeling overwhelmed by school, activities, or just life in general? Sometimes talking it out or going for a walk isn’t e... Read More
Mindful Movement: Simple Exercises & Stretches to Reduce Stress During Study Breaks Mental Health and Well-Being Long study sessions can leave you feeling stiff, stressed, and mentally drained. Taking short breaks is essential — and ... Read More
The Imposter Syndrome Struggle: Feeling Like a Fraud Despite Your Accomplishments Mental Health and Well-Being Ever get a good grade, win an award, or get into a program — and feel like you just got lucky? Like somehow, people over... Read More
Healthy Conflict Resolution Skills for Teenagers (Friends, Family, Group Projects) Mental Health and Well-Being Let’s be real — disagreements happen. You might argue with friends, clash with family, or hit friction during group proj... Read More
Dealing with College Application Stress & Rejection Sensitivity Mental Health and Well-Being Applying to college is a major milestone — but let’s be real, it can also be super stressful. Between writing essays, me... Read More
Your School Counselor is Your Ally: How They Can Support Your Mental Health (Not Just College Apps) Mental Health and Well-Being When you think of your school counselor, college apps and class schedules might be the first things that come to mind. A... Read More
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: Normalizing Mental Health Conversations & Reducing Stigma Mental Health and Well-Being Life — especially in your teen years — can be a rollercoaster -full of ups and downs. Feeling stressed, anxious, sad, or... Read More
Finding Your People: Building Authentic Friendships & Community in High School Mental Health and Well-Being High school comes with a lot of change — new classes, new challenges, and a whole new social scene to figure out. Making... Read More
Digital Detox Challenge: A 7-Day Plan to Reset Your Relationship with Your Phone Mental Health and Well-Being Does your phone ever feel like it’s basically part of your body? You start scrolling for “just a sec”… and suddenly it’s... Read More
Navigating Academic Anxiety: From Test Stress to Presentation Panic Mental Health and Well-Being School can be demanding. Juggling classes, homework, tests, projects, and presentations can quickly lead to stress and a... Read More
FOMO is Real: Managing Social Anxiety & Comparison in the Age of Social Media Mental Health and Well-Being Ever scroll through Instagram or TikTok and suddenly feel stressed, left out, or like your life just isn’t measuring up?... Read More
The Pressure to Be Perfect: Combating Perfectionism in High School Academics & Activities Mental Health and Well-Being High school can feel intense. There’s pressure to get top grades, stand out in activities, and build the “perfect” colle... Read More
Creating an “Activity Resume” Just for Brainstorming & Tracking Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Throughout high school, you join clubs, play sports, volunteer, work part-time, and pursue hobbies. When it comes time f... Read More
Peer Tutoring & Mentoring as Leadership & Impact Extracurriculars Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Many students help their classmates succeed through peer tutoring or mentoring programs. While you might see it simply a... Read More
Balancing “Fun” Extracurriculars with “Impressive” Ones Extracurricular Activities and Leadership When building your activities list for college applications, there’s often pressure to choose things that look ... Read More
Getting Cut from the Team / Not Getting the Lead Role: Turning Setbacks into Strengths Extracurricular Activities and Leadership You practiced hard for tryouts but didn’t make varsity. You auditioned for the lead role but got a smaller part, o... Read More
What if I Started an Activity Late (Junior/Senior Year)? How to Frame It Extracurricular Activities and Leadership College application advice often emphasizes long-term commitment to activities. But what if you discovered a new passion... Read More
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Extracurriculars That Build Entrepreneurial Skills Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Do you dream of starting your own company, inventing a new product, or finding innovative solutions to problems? Develop... Read More
How Colleges View Religious or Political Extracurriculars Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Many students are actively involved in religious youth groups, faith-based volunteer work, political clubs, or campaign ... Read More
Are Expensive Summer Programs Worth It for College Apps? Exploring Alternatives Extracurricular Activities and Leadership As summer approaches, you might hear about prestigious (and often very costly) pre-college programs hosted on university... Read More
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Virtual Volunteering Opportunities: Making an Impact from Home Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Volunteering is a great way to give back, learn new skills, and strengthen your college applications. But busy schedules... Read More
Family Responsibilities as Meaningful Contributions: How to Frame Caring for Siblings or Family Members Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Many students have significant responsibilities at home, like regularly caring for younger siblings, looking after an el... Read More
The Power of Independent Projects: Research, Creative Writing, Coding Projects as ECs Extracurricular Activities and Leadership When thinking about extracurriculars, clubs, sports, and volunteering often come to mind. But some of the most impressiv... Read More
Finding Your Unique Passion: Extracurriculars That Align with Unique Academic Interests Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Standard extracurriculars like student government, sports, or the school newspaper are great. But what if your passions ... Read More
Leveraging Your Part-Time Job as a Meaningful Extracurricular Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Many high school students balance school with part-time jobs – working at local shops, restaurants, or offices. Sometime... Read More
Online Communities & Forums as Extracurriculars (Reddit Mods, Discord Servers, Fan Wikis) Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Your life doesn’t just happen within school walls. Many students spend significant time participating in and even ... Read More
Quantifying Your Extracurricular Impact: Adding Numbers & Data (Even When It Feels Qualitative) Extracurricular Activities and Leadership When describing your extracurricular activities on college applications or resumes, simply listing your role isn’t... Read More
The “Spike” vs. “Well-Rounded”: Choosing Extracurriculars That Tell Your Story Extracurricular Activities and Leadership When choosing extracurricular activities, students often wonder what colleges prefer: being involved in many different t... Read More
Your Portfolio as a Living Document: Quarterly Check-in & Update Strategy Resume and Portfolio Building You’ve built your digital portfolio – congratulations! But your work isn’t quite done. Think of your portfol... Read More
Ethical Considerations in Portfolio Building: Citing Sources, Giving Credit & Avoiding Plagiarism Resume and Portfolio Building Your portfolio is a showcase of your abilities and accomplishments. Maintaining honesty and integrity in how you present... Read More
Portfolio Peer Review Party: A Fun Guide to Getting Actionable Feedback Resume and Portfolio Building You’ve spent hours building your digital portfolio, adding projects, and polishing descriptions. But how do you kn... Read More
Language Skills on Your Resume/Portfolio: Showcasing Fluency & Cultural Competence Resume and Portfolio Building Being able to communicate in more than one language is a fantastic skill. It opens doors, connects cultures, and is high... Read More
The One-Page Resume Rule: When to Break It (and How) for College Applications Resume and Portfolio Building You’ve probably heard the golden rule: keep your resume to one page. For most job applications and many college ap... Read More
Curating Your Online Presence: Aligning Your Portfolio with LinkedIn & Handshake Resume and Portfolio Building In today’s world, your online presence often forms a first impression. For students and recent grads, key platform... Read More
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From Idea to Impact: Documenting a Passion Project for Your Portfolio Resume and Portfolio Building Passion projects – things you create or pursue outside of school simply because you’re interested – are fantastic ... Read More
Getting Granular: Showcasing Specific Software & Tech Skills (Beyond “Microsoft Office”) Resume and Portfolio Building Almost everyone uses basic computer programs these days. Listing “Proficient in Microsoft Office” on your re... Read More
Accessibility Matters: Making Your Digital Portfolio User-Friendly for Everyone Resume and Portfolio Building You’ve worked hard building your digital portfolio to showcase your skills and projects. But have you thought abou... Read More
The Micro-Internship & Gig Work Resume: Showcasing Short-Term Experiences Effectively Resume and Portfolio Building Maybe you didn’t have a traditional summer internship. Instead, perhaps you completed a few short projects online,... Read More
Portfolio Content Checklist: What to Gather BEFORE You Start Building Resume and Portfolio Building So, you’ve decided to create a digital portfolio for your college applications or job search. That’s great! But be... Read More
Documenting Group Projects for Your Portfolio: Showcasing Collaboration AND Individual Contribution Resume and Portfolio Building Group projects are common in school and activities. They teach valuable skills like teamwork and communication. But when... Read More
Visual Storytelling in Your Portfolio: Using Infographics & Design (Even If You’re Not an Artist) Resume and Portfolio Building Your digital portfolio showcases your achievements and projects. While text is important, adding some simple visuals can... Read More
The “Brag Sheet” Revisited: Using It to Power Your Resume AND Recommendations Resume and Portfolio Building You’ve probably heard about making a “brag sheet” for your teachers or counselors when asking for reco... Read More
Building a Portfolio for Direct Admit Programs (Nursing, Business, Engineering) Resume and Portfolio Building Getting accepted directly into a specific major like nursing, business, or engineering is a big deal. These “direc... Read More
From Gaming Wins to Resume Skills: Translating Non-Traditional Experiences Resume and Portfolio Building When you think about activities for college applications, maybe sports, clubs, or volunteering come to mind. But what ab... Read More
“Link in Bio”: Using Social Media to Point to Your Portfolio Resume and Portfolio Building You see “link in bio” everywhere on social media. It’s a common way to share more information. When thinking... Read More
Your GitHub Profile as a Portfolio: A Guide for Aspiring Coders & Tech Students Resume and Portfolio Building If you love coding or plan to study computer science or engineering, you need to know about GitHub. It’s more than... Read More
TikTok Resume? Using Short Video in Your Application (Carefully!) Resume and Portfolio Building You might hear people talking about a “TikTok resume.” The idea sounds new and exciting. But should you real... Read More
Navigating Career Uncertainty: It’s Okay Not to Have It All Figured Out Career Planning and Development Are you constantly asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Does the pressure to choose a major or ... Read More
Career Exploration Road Trip: Planning Virtual or IRL Visits to Different Workplaces Career Planning and Development Reading about careers and talking to people are great first steps. But sometimes, the best way to understand a job is to... Read More
Presenting Your Personal Brand: Elevator Pitch Practice for Students Career Planning and Development Imagine you’re at a college fair, a networking event, or even just meeting someone interesting, and they ask, R... Read More
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Reverse Engineering Your Dream Career: Identifying Skills & Experiences Needed NOW Career Planning and Development Thinking about your future career can feel overwhelming. Where do you even start? One powerful approach is career planni... Read More
“What Can I Do With a Major In…?” – Deep Dive Series (Psychology Example) Career Planning and Development Psychology is a popular major, exploring the fascinating complexities of the human mind and behavior. But a common quest... Read More
The Importance of Global Competence in Today’s Job Market Career Planning and Development We live on a connected planet. Businesses operate across borders, teams collaborate internationally, and cultural unders... Read More
Using Informational Interviews to Test Drive Career Ideas Before Committing Career Planning and Development Exploring potential careers can feel abstract. Reading job descriptions online only tells you so much. A powerful tool f... Read More
Career Paths for Creative Thinkers Who DON’T Want to Be Starving Artists Career Planning and Development Are you a naturally creative person who loves drawing, writing, designing, or coming up with unique ideas? Maybe you dre... Read More
The Ethics of AI in Your Future Career: What Gen Z Needs to Consider Career Planning and Development Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of our daily lives and workplaces. From recommendation algorithms ... Read More
Upskilling on a Budget: Free & Low-Cost Ways to Learn In-Demand Skills Career Planning and Development In today’s fast-changing job market, continuously learning new skills is super important. Whether you want to expl... Read More
Building Your “Personal Board of Directors”: Mentors, Sponsors & Advocates Career Planning and Development You often hear advice about finding a mentor to guide your career path. That’s great advice! But relying on just o... Read More
Career Exploration Through Virtual Reality & Simulations Career Planning and Development Choosing a career path often involves reading job descriptions, watching videos, or talking to people. But what if you c... Read More
From Gamer to Game Developer (and Other Gaming Industry Careers) Career Planning and Development Do you spend hours exploring virtual settings, mastering game mechanics, or following esports tournaments? If you love v... Read More
“Green Careers”: Exploring Jobs Focused on Sustainability & Environmental Impact Career Planning and Development Climate change and environmental protection are huge topics today. Many people, especially younger generations, want car... Read More
The Rise of the “Portfolio Career”: Building Multiple Income Streams & Skill Sets Career Planning and Development For a long time, the typical career path looked like climbing a ladder at one company. But the way people work is changi... Read More
Careers That Didn’t Exist 10 Years Ago (and What Might Be Next) Career Planning and Development Think back just 10 or 15 years. So much has changed, especially with technology. This rapid change creates entirely new ... Read More
Finalizing Your College Choice: Beyond Fit – Comparing Financial Aid & Career Outcomes College Applications and Admissions Congratulations! You have college acceptance letters in hand. That’s a huge accomplishment. Now comes the final, often c... Read More
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Making the Most of College Fairs (Virtual & In-Person): Prep, Questions & Follow-Up College Applications and Admissions College fairs, whether huge bustling events in a convention center or online gatherings you attend from home, can be val... Read More
Anatomy of a Great Supplemental Essay: Analyzing “Why Us?” and “Community” Examples College Applications and Admissions Beyond the main Common App essay, many colleges require shorter supplemental essays. These often ask specific questions ... Read More
Decoding College Rankings: Using Them Wisely (and When to Ignore Them) College Applications and Admissions College rankings seem to be everywhere. Lists published by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and others get a lot of... Read More
The Transfer Student Application: Key Differences from First-Year Apps College Applications and Admissions Thinking about switching colleges or moving from a community college to a four-year university? Applying as a transfer s... Read More
Applying with a Low GPA or Test Scores: Strategies for Highlighting Your Strengths College Applications and Admissions Seeing average GPA or test score ranges for colleges can be stressful, especially if your numbers aren’t quite the... Read More
How Your Social Media Footprint Can Impact College Admissions (The Good & The Bad) College Applications and Admissions You share photos, connect with friends, and follow trends online every day. But have you ever stopped to think about you... Read More
Submitting Standardized Test Scores: A Deep Dive into Score Choice & Superscoring Policies College Applications and Admissions Navigating standardized test scores for college applications can feel complicated, especially with many schools going te... Read More
Impact of High School Course Rigor: AP, IB, Dual Enrollment & College Admissions College Applications and Admissions When planning your high school schedule, you probably hear a lot about taking tough classes like Advanced Placement (AP)... Read More
Demonstrated Interest in the Digital Age: Beyond Campus Visits College Applications and Admissions Colleges want to admit students who genuinely want to attend their school. “Demonstrated interest” is how yo... Read More
Asking for Recommendation Letters: A Timeline & Etiquette Guide for Students College Applications and Admissions College recommendation letters are a crucial part of your application. They offer a personal perspective on your abiliti... Read More
The College Essay Brainstorming Playbook: Techniques to Uncover Your Best Story Ideas College Applications and Admissions Staring at a blank page trying to come up with the perfect college essay topic can feel overwhelming. You know the essay... Read More
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Navigating College Waitlists: The Do’s and Don’ts of the Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) College Applications and Admissions Getting waitlisted by a college can feel confusing. It’s not a yes, but it’s not a no either. One of the mos... Read More
College Application Red Flags (From an Admissions Officer’s POV) College Applications and Admissions You spend months perfecting your college applications. You want everything to be just right. But sometimes, small things... Read More
The International Student’s Guide to US Financial Aid & Scholarships Scholarships and Financial Aid Dreaming of studying in the United States? That’s exciting! However, securing funding as an international student ... Read More
Scholarships for Students with Chronic Illnesses or Disabilities Scholarships and Financial Aid Going to college while managing a chronic illness or disability presents unique challenges, sometimes including extra co... Read More
Understanding Different Types of Student Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS, Private) Scholarships and Financial Aid After exploring grants and scholarships, many students still need help covering college costs. Student loans are a commo... Read More
Appealing Your Financial Aid Award: Step-by-Step Guide & Sample Letter Scholarships and Financial Aid You received your financial aid award letter, but after reviewing it, you realize there’s a gap between the aid of... Read More
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529 Plans & Financial Aid: Understanding the Impact on FAFSA/CSS Profile Scholarships and Financial Aid 529 plans are popular, tax-advantaged accounts designed specifically for saving for education expenses. They’re a ... Read More
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Scholarship Displacement: Will Winning Outside Scholarships Reduce My College Aid? Scholarships and Financial Aid Winning scholarships from sources outside your college (like local clubs, national organizations, or companies) is fanta... Read More
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The Scholarship Thank You Letter: Why It Matters & How to Write a Great One Scholarships and Financial Aid Congratulations! You received a scholarship to help pay for college – that’s fantastic news! After the initial exc... Read More
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The “Additional Information” Section: Friend or Foe? When & How to Use It Wisely College Applications and Admissions The Common Application has a section called “Additional Information.” It sounds inviting, right? Like a plac... Read More
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From Volunteer Hours to Impact Stories: Framing Community Service in Your Portfolio Resume and Portfolio Building Colleges want students who make a difference. Listing volunteer hours is good, but showing the volunteer impact you made... Read More
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The Rise of the Video Introduction: Tips for Creating a Compelling Short Clip for Your Portfolio Resume and Portfolio Building Want to make your college application stand out? A video introduction can do just that! It’s a chance to show your... Read More
Keep it Fresh: Simple Strategies for Regularly Updating Your Student Portfolio (Beyond Application Season) Resume and Portfolio Building You poured your heart and soul into creating your student portfolio. It showcases your best work and talents. Now what? ... Read More
Grants vs. Scholarships: What’s the Difference and How to Get Both! Scholarships and Financial Aid Okay, so you’re wondering about grants and scholarships, right? Lots of folks get them mixed up. They both help pa... Read More
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Micro-Scholarships: Earn College Money in High School! Scholarships and Financial Aid Hey, wanna earn some cash for college right now, while you’re still in high school? Sounds good, right? Then you n... Read More
Creating Your “Scholarship Application Kit”: Gather These Documents Now to Save Time Later Scholarships and Financial Aid Applying for scholarships takes time. But you can make it easier. Create a scholarship application checklist. Prepare fo... Read More
Understanding College Costs: Public vs. Private vs. Out-of-State (Which is Really More Affordable After Aid?) Scholarships and Financial Aid Understanding college costs can be tricky. The public vs private college cost difference seems big. What about out of st... Read More
Decoding Your Financial Aid Offer: Comparing Apples-to-Apples (Net Cost is Key!) Scholarships and Financial Aid Got your financial aid package? Great! But how do you choose? You must compare financial aid offers. Understanding colle... Read More
You Won a Scholarship! Now What? (Accepting Awards, Thank You Notes & Disbursement) Scholarships and Financial Aid You won a scholarship. The next steps are crucial! Getting that scholarship notification is amazing. You’re one st... Read More
Beyond Google: Using Advanced Search Operators & Unique Databases for Scholarship Hunting Scholarships and Financial Aid Searching for scholarships? Tired of the same old results? Advanced scholarship search techniques can help! Regular Goog... Read More
Networking Your Way to Scholarships: Tapping into Community & Professional Connections Scholarships and Financial Aid Finding scholarships takes effort. But networking for scholarships can open doors. Traditional online searches are a sta... Read More
Tailoring Your “Master” Scholarship Essay: Adapt Your Story for More Wins Scholarships and Financial Aid Applying for scholarships takes time and effort. Many applications require essays, and the thought of writing a complete... Read More
Letters of Recommendation for Scholarships: Choosing Recommenders Who Know Your Specific Strengths Scholarships and Financial Aid Getting letters of recommendation for scholarships is a key part of the application process. While any letter is helpful... Read More
Showcasing Activities for Scholarship Committees: Highlighting Leadership, Impact & Relevance Scholarships and Financial Aid Okay, so you’re going for scholarships, right? Awesome! Listen, a lot of students think just getting good grades i... Read More
Tackling Tricky Supplemental Essays: Prompts Decoded & Examples Analyzed College Applications and Admissions College applications can feel like a huge task. Supplemental essays are a key part. They let colleges see who you are be... Read More
Applying Undecided: How to Frame Your Application When You Don’t Know Your Major College Applications and Admissions Many students feel pressure to pick a major before college. But what if you’re unsure? It’s perfectly fine! ... Read More
Letters of Recommendation: Choosing Your Recommenders & Helping Them Write the Best Letter College Applications and Admissions College applications need great letters of recommendation. A good letter shows colleges who you are. It highlights your ... Read More
The “Optional” Application Pieces: When Should You Submit Art Supplements, Research Abstracts, or Extra Essays? College Applications and Admissions College applications often have “optional” pieces. Art supplements, research abstracts, extra essays – shoul... Read More
First-Gen & Proud: Navigating the College Application Process (Tips & Resources) College Applications and Admissions Applying to college can be tough. It can feel even tougher as a first-generation student. You’re paving the way fo... Read More
International Students Applying to US Colleges: Key Differences & Essential Tips College Applications and Admissions Applying to US colleges is exciting! But it can be different for international students. You may face unique requirement... Read More
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The Parent’s Guide to Teen Mental Health: Recognizing Signs of Struggle, Offering Support, and Knowing When to Seek Professional Help Mental Health and Well-Being Adolescence is a time of significant change and growth. It can be a challenging period for teenagers as they navigate ac... Read More
Counselor’s Corner: Promoting Mental Health Awareness and Support Services at Your School Mental Health and Well-Being School counselors play a vital role in supporting the mental health and well-being of students. By promoting mental heal... Read More
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Journaling for Mental Health: Simple Prompts and Techniques to Process Emotions, Reduce Stress, and Gain Clarity Mental Health and Well-Being In the fast-paced world of student life, it’s easy to get caught up in the demands of academics, social life, and ... Read More
Exercise and Mental Health: How Physical Activity Can Boost Mood, Reduce Stress, and Improve Focus for Students Mental Health and Well-Being Being a student comes with its own set of challenges: academic pressure, social anxieties, and the constant juggle of re... Read More
Healthy Eating Habits for Students: Fueling Your Brain and Body for Success Mental Health and Well-Being As a student, you’re constantly on the go, juggling classes, studying, extracurricular activities, and a social li... Read More
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Sleep Hygiene for Students: Prioritizing Sleep for Better Grades, Mood, and Overall Health Mental Health and Well-Being Are you getting enough sleep? As a student, it can be easy to sacrifice sleep for studying, social activities, or extrac... Read More
Test Anxiety Toolkit: Proven Techniques to Stay Calm, Focused, and Confident During Exams Mental Health and Well-Being Test anxiety is a common experience. Many students feel it before or during exams. It’s that mix of nervousness, f... Read More
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Beyond the Usual Suspects: Unique and Standout Extracurricular Activities That Impress Colleges Extracurricular Activities and Leadership While traditional extracurriculars like sports, clubs, and volunteer work are valuable, colleges often seek students who... Read More
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Financial Literacy for Students: Essential Money Management Skills for College and Beyond Career Planning and Development Developing strong financial literacy skills is essential for students to navigate the financial challenges of college an... Read More
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Beyond the Basics: Essential Skills for College Success (and How to Develop Them) Career Planning and Development While academic achievement is crucial for college admissions, success in college and beyond requires a broader set of sk... Read More
Career Assessments for Students: Understanding Your Strengths, Interests, and Potential Paths (Best Tools & Resources) Career Planning and Development Choosing a career path can be a daunting task for students. Career assessments offer valuable tools to help students exp... Read More
The Parent’s Guide to Career Planning: Supporting Your Child’s Exploration and Decision-Making Career Planning and Development Navigating the path to a fulfilling career is a significant journey for teenagers. Parents play a crucial role in suppor... Read More
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Side Hustles for Students: Earning Money, Building Skills, and Exploring Entrepreneurship Resume and Portfolio Building College life is more than just textbooks and exams. It’s also a time for self-discovery, skill development, and ex... Read More
Informational Interviews: Your Secret Weapon for Career Clarity (How to Conduct Them Like a Pro) Career Planning and Development Navigating the world of careers can feel overwhelming. How do you know if a particular industry or job role is the right... Read More
Networking for Introverts: Building Meaningful Connections Without Feeling Awkward Career Planning and Development Networking is often seen as an extrovert’s game – filled with crowded rooms, endless small talk, and aggressive se... Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Career Exploration: Assessments, Internships, Informational Interviews, and More Career Planning and Development Choosing a career path is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Career exploration is a process that em... Read More
Beyond the “Dream Job”: Exploring Career Paths That Align with Your Values and Passions Career Planning and Development For many students, the idea of a “dream job” can be both inspiring and overwhelming. The pressure to find th... Read More
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Scholarship Central: Your One-Stop Shop for Free College Cash! Scholarships and Financial Aid Scholarship searching can feel like total chaos. Lists everywhere. Deadlines all over the place. Essays and forms piling... Read More
Unlock Scholarships with Activities: Your “Extra-Curricular Edge” Scholarships and Financial Aid Scholarships. Free money for college. Awesome! And yes, good grades are important for many scholarships. But here’s a ke... Read More
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FAFSA vs. CSS Profile: Know the Aid Forms – Get More College Money! Scholarships and Financial Aid FAFSA. CSS Profile. College financial aid forms. They can all start to sound like alphabet soup. Confusing, right? But h... Read More
Get More College Money: How to Negotiate Financial Aid Like a Pro Scholarships and Financial Aid You got accepted to college. Awesome! Then the financial aid award letter arrives. And… it’s kind of a letdown. The “fre... Read More
Work-Study: Get Paid to Work Your Way Through College Scholarships and Financial Aid Want to make college more affordable? Want to earn some cash while you are hitting the books? Then you need to know abou... Read More
Student Loans 101: Borrow Smart, Avoid Debt Traps! Scholarships and Financial Aid Student loans. You hear about them all the time when you talk about college. Student loans can help you pay for college ... Read More
College Budget Bootcamp: Your Money Plan for College Success Scholarships and Financial Aid College is a big dream. It’s also a big cost. And when you think “college costs,” what’s the first thing that pops in yo... Read More
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First-Gen Financial Aid Guide: Your Path to Affordable College Scholarships and Financial Aid First-generation college student? Wow! That’s HUGE! You are breaking new ground. You are paving the way for your family.... Read More
Scholarships by Major: Get Free Money for YOUR Dream Field! Scholarships and Financial Aid Scholarship searching can feel like casting a giant net. You search for “scholarships for college students.” You get mil... Read More
No Essay Scholarships: Your Fast Track to Free College Money Scholarships and Financial Aid Scholarship essays. Ugh. Let’s be honest, they can feel like a huge pain. Long. Hard to write. Time-consuming. And when ... Read More
Local Scholarships: Your Secret Weapon for College Funding Scholarships and Financial Aid Scholarships. Everyone wants them. Free money for college? Who wouldn’t want that? And you see those big, national schol... Read More
The Ultimate Scholarship Search Plan: Find Hidden Free Money for College Scholarships and Financial Aid Scholarships are like gold for college. Free money that you don’t have to pay back? Yes, please! But finding those schol... Read More
Beyond GPA: Find “Hidden” Scholarships You Can Actually Win Scholarships and Financial Aid Think scholarships are only for straight-A students? Think again! It’s easy to believe that scholarships are all about g... Read More
Scholarship Myths Debunked: The Truth About Free College Cash Scholarships and Financial Aid Scholarships. Free money for college. Sounds like a dream, right? Like something too good to be true. And that’s part of... Read More
Counselor Corner: Streamlining the College Application Process for Your Students College Applications and Admissions School counselors, you are the superheroes of college application season! You guide countless students through a process... Read More
Decoding College Admission Rates: What Those Numbers Mean? College Applications and Admissions College admission rates. You see them everywhere. College websites show them off. Rankings lists shout them out. Article... Read More
Internship Hunting 101: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Landing Your Dream Internship (Even with No Experience) Internships and Job Opportunities Landing your first internship can feel like climbing a mountain, especially when you feel like you have “no experience.”... Read More
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The “No Experience” Cover Letter: How to Write a Compelling Letter When You’re Just Starting Out Resume and Portfolio Building Facing a blank page when writing a cover letter for an internship can be particularly daunting when you feel you lack pr... Read More
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Internships for High School Students: Why They Matter for College and Career (and How to Find Them) Internships and Job Opportunities While internships are often associated with college students, the value of internship experiences for high school studen... Read More
Paid Internships vs. Unpaid Internships: Weighing the Pros and Cons (and Knowing Your Rights) Internships and Job Opportunities As you navigate the world of internships, you will undoubtedly encounter opportunities that are designated as either pai... Read More
Ethical Internships: Examining the Implications of Paid vs. Unpaid Work Experience Internships and Job Opportunities The prevalence of both paid and unpaid internships within the professional landscape raises significant ethical question... Read More
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Summer Internships: Making the Most of Your Break (Planning, Applications, and Maximizing Experience) Internships and Job Opportunities Summer break presents a valuable window of opportunity for high school and college students to gain meaningful professio... Read More
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Building Work Experience Before College: Alternatives to Traditional Internships (Volunteering, Projects, Freelancing) Internships and Job Opportunities While traditional internships are often highlighted as the primary pathway for high school students to gain pre-college ... Read More
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How Do I Decide Which College to Attend (Because, Yeah, It’s a Big Deal) College Applications and Admissions So, you got into multiple colleges—major win! But now comes the real challenge: picking the one. And let’s be real, this... Read More
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After “Submit” – Your Post-Application Game Plan for Success College Applications and Admissions YES! You did it! You hit “submit” on your college applications. Take a deep breath. You deserve a pat on the back. All t... Read More
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College Rejection or Aid Too Low? Your Guide to Appeals College Applications and Admissions College decision day. You open the letter (or email). And…it’s not the “yes” you were hoping for. Rejection. Waitlist. O... Read More
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Student Portfolio Power-Ups: Adding Videos, Projects, and Multimedia to Wow Colleges & Employers Resume and Portfolio Building You have a student portfolio. That’s good! But good is not enough to stand out. Want to be WOW? Want colleges and jobs t... Read More
Resume Red Flags: Common Mistakes High School Students Make (and How to Fix Them NOW) Resume and Portfolio Building Your resume is like your first handshake. It’s how you say “hi” to colleges and jobs. But what if your... Read More
Portfolio for Every Student: Even if You Think You “Haven’t Done Anything” (Yes, You Have!) Resume and Portfolio Building “I have nothing to put in a portfolio!” Sound like you? Lots of students feel this way. They think portfolios are only f... Read More
The Visual Resume: When to Use Graphics and Design (and When to Keep it Classic) Resume and Portfolio Building Should your resume be plain black and white? Or should it be bright and colorful? Some resumes use cool designs. These a... Read More
From High School to College to Career: How Your Portfolio Evolves (and Why You Need to Start Now) Resume and Portfolio Building Think a portfolio is just for college apps? Think again! Your portfolio is not just for one time. It’s not just for righ... Read More
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Teacher & Counselor Tip Sheet: Guiding Students in Building Powerful Portfolios (Step-by-Step) Resume and Portfolio Building Teachers and counselors, you play a key role in student success. And student portfolios are now a must-have tool. But ho... Read More
The Power of Recommendations: How to Request & Showcase Glowing Letters in Your Portfolio Resume and Portfolio Building Want to make your student portfolio truly amazing? Want it to really impress colleges and future bosses? Then don’t forg... Read More
Portfolio Privacy & Security: What to Share Publicly vs. Keep Private (Student Guide) Resume and Portfolio Building Putting your student portfolio online is smart. It helps you get noticed. It shows your work to the world. But is it saf... Read More
“Show, Don’t Tell” in Your Portfolio: Using Evidence to Prove Your Skills & Achievements Resume and Portfolio Building Your student portfolio is your place to shine. It’s where you tell colleges and future bosses how great you are. But jus... Read More
Portfolio Privacy & Security: Your Safe Guide to Sharing Your Work Online Resume and Portfolio Building Putting your student portfolio online is a smart move now. It lets you show your work to colleges. It helps you get jobs... Read More
The 5-Minute Portfolio Refresh: Quick Tweaks to Instantly Improve Your Online Presence Resume and Portfolio Building Your student portfolio is online. Great! But is it just sitting there? Portfolios are not “set it and forget it” things.... Read More
Beyond the Resume: The Power of a Cover Letter (and How to Write One That Gets Read) Resume and Portfolio Building You have a great student resume. Awesome! Is that all you need to get a job or internship? Not always. There’s another p... Read More
Portfolio Feedback Frenzy: How to Get Constructive Criticism and Level Up Your Profile Resume and Portfolio Building You built a student portfolio. Congrats! Are you done now? Almost. But not quite yet. Want to make your portfolio truly ... Read More
See Portfolios That WOW! Create a Student Portfolio That Stands Out Resume and Portfolio Building Need Portfolio Spark? Here’s What’s Possible! Building a student portfolio? Feeling a bit lost? Need a spark... Read More
Portfolio for Scholarships: Tailoring Your Profile to Win Free College Money Resume and Portfolio Building Want to win more scholarships for college? Of course, you do! Essays are key for scholarships. Grades matter too. But th... Read More
When Should I Start Preparing for College Applications? (Spoiler: Sooner Than You Think!) Resume and Portfolio Building Starting early with your college applications can save you tons of stress later on. Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore... Read More
SAT vs ACT: What’s the Difference? Should I Take Both? (Let’s Decode the Test Drama) College Applications and Admissions So, you’re gearing up for college apps and trying to figure out whether to take the SAT or ACT—or both. Are they t... Read More
Do Colleges Accept Late Applications? (Or Are You Out of Luck?) College Applications and Admissions Missing a college application deadline can be stressful, but you still have options. Many colleges accept late applicati... Read More
What College Admissions Officers Actually Look for (and How to Stand Out) Resume and Portfolio Building Applying to college? Admissions officers review thousands of applications, and let’s be real—they don’t have time to ove... Read More
Early Decision vs. Regular Decision: Which One is Right for You? College Applications and Admissions When applying to college, one of the biggest decisions students face is whether to apply Early Decision (ED) or Regular ... Read More
How to Write a College Essay That Actually Stands Out College Applications and Admissions Let’s be real—writing a college essay can feel like a lot. You’re supposed to sum up who you are, impress admissions off... Read More
How to Stand Out in Competitive College Applications Resume and Portfolio Building Why Standing Out Matters in College Admissions Process Let’s be real—With college acceptance rates at top schools hittin... Read More
How to Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation for College College Applications and Admissions Why Strong Letters of Recommendation Matter Your GPA, test scores, and extracurriculars are solid, but they don’t tell t... Read More
How to Avoid Common FAFSA Mistakes That Cost You Money Scholarships and Financial Aid Applying for scholarships and colleges is stressful enough. Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) ... Read More
Do AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment Classes Help My College Application? (Short Answer: Yes, But Let’s Break It Down) College Applications and Admissions Are AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), or dual enrollment classes actually worth it for college ... Read More
Should I Apply to a College Even If I Don’t Meet the GPA or Test Score Requirements? (Spoiler: Yes!) College Applications and Admissions So you found your dream school, but there’s one tiny problem—your GPA or test scores aren’t quite hitting their average ... Read More
How to Build a Strong Student Resume (Without the Stress) Resume and Portfolio Building So, you need a resume, but you’re thinking: What do I even put on there if I haven’t had a “real” job yet? Don’t worry—w... Read More
How Many Colleges Should I Apply To? (Because 1 Feels Too Risky and 20 Feels Like Overkill) College Applications and Admissions So, you’re gearing up to apply to colleges, and you’re probably wondering: How many schools should I even apply to? Do I... Read More
Internships vs. Part-Time Jobs: Which One is Better for Your Career? Internships and Job Opportunities Trying to figure out whether you should go for an internship or a part-time job? Both can help build your resume and set... Read More
When Is the Best Time to Apply for a Scholarship? (Hint: Not the Night Before!) Scholarships and Financial Aid Let’s be honest—scholarships are free money, and who doesn’t love free money? But waiting until the last minute to apply... Read More
What Hiring Managers Look for in a Student Resume Resume and Portfolio Building When applying for jobs or internships as a student, your resume is often your first impression on a hiring manager. Even... Read More
Awarding Creativity and Determination: Eaton Scott – $2,500 No Sweat Scholarship Winner! Student Success Stories At Cirkled In, we love recognizing students who shine with talent and determination. We’re thrilled to introduce E... Read More
Top Five Trends from NACAC 2024: New Challenges, New Solutions! Cirkled In Specific This was our 7th year attending NACAC in LA this year and it did not disappoint. In fact, we’ll say it was the best ever... Read More
Celebrating Excellence: Lily Hale – $2,500 “No Sweat” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories At Cirkled In, we believe in recognizing and rewarding students who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their educatio... Read More
Empowering Every Student: Cirkled In Named Top 200 EdTech Startup by HolonIQ 2024 Cirkled In Specific Cirkled In proudly celebrates its recognition for the third time as one of the Top 200 EdTech companies in North America... Read More
Cirkled In’s Winter Break Tips for Students As we approach the winter break, Cirkled In extends its well wishes for not only a festive and joyous holiday, but a rej... Read More
Giving Thanks and Looking Toward a Future Filled with Opportunities Cirkled In Specific This Thanksgiving as we are about to gather around the table with family and friends to reflect on the blessings in our ... Read More
Jacob Warner – $2,500 “No-Sweat” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories Cirkled In is excited to announce our June 2023 “No-Sweat” $2,500 Scholarship Award winner, Jacob Warner. Attendin... Read More
Are we there yet? Gutting of Affirmative Action and its repercussion. Cirkled In Specific The long-term affirmative action repercussions could reshape how colleges evaluate applicants and maintain campus divers... Read More
11 Tips to Get the Most out of your Summer Mental Health and Well-Being Summer is almost here – you can feel it in the warmth of the sun and longer days with beautiful sunsets. Hopefully this ... Read More
Find a Dream Internship or Job on Cirkled In – One-Stop-Shop for Students! (Video 10 of 10) Cirkled In Specific Internships and jobs are excellent ways to gain real-life experience and enhance your learning as a student. These exper... Read More
Find Your Dream College on Cirkled In and get Discovered! (Video 9 of 10) Cirkled In Specific Woo-hoo! Now that you have created a well-polished, 360-degree holistic professional profile on Cirkled In, it’s time to... Read More
ASU-GSV Summit 2023 – an Unforgettable and Electrifying Experience Cirkled In Specific Last week we had an absolutely amazing experience at ASU-GSV Summit in San Diego. It was an electrifying conference, and... Read More
Ace Your Profile: with Internships and Work Experience on Cirkled In (Video 8 of 10) Cirkled In Specific Hooray! We are in our final category of professional profile! With this, we are ready to showcase ourselves professional... Read More
Cirkled In and ASA Join Forces to Modernize Post-Secondary Planning for Gen-Z Students Cirkled In Specific San Diego, CA, USA; April 18th, 2023 (Link to PR Newswire Release) Cirkled In, a leading student portfolio and youth rec... Read More
Showcasing Your Contribution: Adding Volunteering to Your Profile (Video 7 of 10) Cirkled In Specific Volunteering – A Guide to Showcasing Your Contribution and Impact Welcome to part seven of our ten-part series on Cirkle... Read More
Showcasing Your Athletic Skills: A Step-by-Step Guide to Highlighting Your Sports Experience (Video 6 of 10) Cirkled In Specific Welcome back to our ten-part series on Cirkled In, where we help you make the most of your profile. Today, we’re t... Read More
Showcasing Your Artistic Side: Adding Music and Arts to Your Profile (Video 5 of 10) Cirkled In Specific Get ready to showcase your artistic side! It’s time to add some pizzazz to your profile with music and arts. Did y... Read More
Showcasing Your Summer Activities on Cirkled In (Part 4 of 10 Video Series) Cirkled In Specific Welcome back to our ten-part series on creating a dazzling profile that showcases your achievements and talents. Today, ... Read More
Showcasing Your Supplemental Learning on Cirkled In (Part 3 of 10 Video Series) Cirkled In Specific Welcome to the third episode of our ten-part series on creating an impressive profile on Cirkled In! Today, we’re ... Read More
A Guide to Showcasing Your Academic Achievements on Cirkled In (Part 2 of 10 Video Series) Cirkled In Specific This is part two of our 10-part series on polishing your Cirkled In profile. In this article and video, we will guide yo... Read More
Creating your Professional Story on Cirkled In – One Step at a time (Part 1 of 10 Video Series) Cirkled In Specific Are you excited to showcase your accomplishments and talents to the world? We are thrilled to launch this series o... Read More
Jack McClain – $2,500 “No-Sweat” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories Cirkled In is thrilled to announce the December 2022 “No-Sweat” $2,500 Scholarship Award Winner, Jack McClain. Jack is a... Read More
$3.75 Billion – Went Unclaimed in Pell Grant in 2021! Cirkled In Specific Hard to believe February is already here -a month of love and the super bowl! January gave some good news to the higher ... Read More
Cirkled In Selected for the 2023 GSV Cup “Elite 200” Cirkled In Specific Seattle, Washington, USA (January 9, 2023) — The GSV Cup selected Cirkled In for The Elite 200. This list recognizes the... Read More
2022 – Wrapping up a Year of Recovery and Rebound! Cirkled In Specific 2022 was a year of recovery and rebound for most people, including our education system. Some of the shifts that occurre... Read More
Delivering On Our Promise: ONE Hub of ALL Opportunities for ALL Students! Cirkled In Specific We are thrilled to announce Cirkled In’s latest award of the “Best Online & Blended Learning Solution” in Excellence... Read More
Top Five Trends from NACAC 2022 – Reinventing The Education System Cirkled In Specific Conference Exhibition Fee: $2,100 Ticket to Houston: $600 Food & Lodging: $1,000 Meeting people in person: Priceless... Read More
Mandy Christy – “No Sweat” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories What’s better than helping students weave their career, Cirkled In believes in it and is continuing its ardent desire of... Read More
Back To School: Best Wishes, Hopes, and Dreams – A Letter from Our Founder Cirkled In Specific Dear Students, A new backpack, school supplies, maybe some jitters – but also a whole bunch of new excitement and ... Read More
Sophie Csiki – March 2022 “No Sweat” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories Cirkled In’s goal has always been to help students shape their futures, and Sophie Csiki took that in a literal way.&nbs... Read More
11 Tips to Get the Most out of this “Mask-Free” Summer Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Summer is almost here – you can feel it in the warmth of the sun and longer days with beautiful sunsets. Hopefully this ... Read More
May Day! Did you find your Best-fit Jersey? May 1st – National College Decision Day – is a big day for colleges and high school seniors alike. It’s a day of hopes a... Read More
5 Tips to Manage Test Anxiety in a Classroom – For Teachers and Students! Mental Health and Well-Being Happy Spring! Trees are budding, flowers are blooming and days are getting longer. It’s a time for new beginning and gro... Read More
Finding your Real Passion in a Virtual World of COVID They say if you love what you do you in life, you never go to work even for a day. Working on something that you are pas... Read More
Impact MLK Has On Students Today Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as a great leader and continues to inspire people of all ages. He fought for equali... Read More
Interview on the Youngpreneur Podcast – My Journey of founding Cirkled In Cirkled In Specific Cirkled In was recently interviewed on the Youngpreneur podcast with Anjalee Naren, where our CEO shared her journey of ... Read More
2021 – Yet another challenging year goes in the books! Cirkled In Specific 2021 was one more difficult year with the continued turmoil. With all the fluctuations of vaccine availability and new v... Read More
Crisis in College Recruitment – COVID is only Intensifying an Old Problem! Recently, National Student Clearinghouse reported initial fall enrollment numbers and they do not look pretty. Numbers s... Read More
Thanksgiving – One Student’s Perspective Cirkled In Specific Dear Cirkled In community, It comes around every year, but this year Thanksgiving is different. The meaning of Thanksgiv... Read More
NACAC 2021: Recap and Reinforcement of our Mission! Cirkled In Specific We, the Cirkled In team, had a great time at NACAC Conference this year. This year, we were fortunate enough for the con... Read More
Diary of a Wimpy Mom…. Grocery Shopping: A rude awakening Cirkled In Specific Yesterday I went for the grocery shopping – first trip after leaving my older daughter, Kriti at her college campus. Sin... Read More
Diary of a Wimpy Mom…. Finally the day has arrived! Today is the day – the day we let you go; let you fly and soar high up in the sky. We know you are still a little bird r... Read More
Diary of a Wimpy Mom … When huge accomplishment also brings huge loss Cirkled In Specific Sometimes huge accomplishments come with a huge sense of loss. Next week at this time we will be saying goodbyes as we d... Read More
Cirkled In: At ASU-GSV Conference: Aug 9th – 11th: Come see us present or exhibit or just meet! Cirkled In Specific Cirkled In is proud to announce that as part of University of Southern California Rossier accelerator, Cirkled In will b... Read More
Diary of a Wimpy Mom…. When you Fear your Best Dream! Cirkled In Specific Chapter 1: When you fear your best dream! Parents wish the best for their kids. Parents work hard in raising their kids,... Read More
Lindsey Scogin – March 2021 “No Sweat” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories Not even a pandemic could stop rising junior and March 2021 scholarship winner Lindsey Scogin from achieving her academi... Read More
New National Survey Reveals We May Have Left One-Third of the High School Graduates of 2021 Behind Cirkled In Specific Schools were closed for more than a year. Students faced tough physical, mental, and emotional turmoil一all while the ent... Read More
Mental Health is Important, Too. Mental Health and Well-Being Can you believe we’ve been in a pandemic for eighteen months? It’s shaped our lives in ways we have never imagined possi... Read More
Thank You, Teachers! Cirkled In Specific It’s #TeacherAppreciationWeek and if there is just one thing the pandemic taught us, it’s that teachers are ... Read More
12 Tips for Mastering AP Exams College Applications and Admissions If you’re taking one, two, or even three AP Exams in the next few weeks, chances are that yo... Read More
We Get It: College Admissions this Year Were Unexpected (To Say the Least) We created the 2021 College Admissions Survey for students to share their opinions. We invite you to take th... Read More
You’ve Been Rejected from a College: Now What? College Applications and Admissions The reality of college admissions is that sometimes you’re accepted and sometimes you’re waitlisted. But the... Read More
Here’s What’s Next After Being Accepted to a College College Applications and Admissions Once the initial excitement wears off, students can be asking themselves and their parents: Well what’s next... Read More
Welcome to SAT/ACT Season (If You Decide to Take the Tests) College Applications and Admissions Happy testing season! With SAT and ACT testing approaching, it can be a stressful time for parents and stude... Read More
Kaushik Srikrishnan – December 2020 “No Sweat” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories Whew, 2020 was a difficult year! But despite the challenges it presented, sophomore Kaushik Srikrishnan from... Read More
Schools are Slowly Reopening. How Can You be Prepared to Return? Cirkled In Specific With all of the anxiety comes the thought: How DO we return? For students who have been distance learning fo... Read More
Cirkled In’s Innovative Platform Featured at Invite-Only Summit Cirkled In Specific BELLEVUE—Cirkled In is proud to announce our participation in the invitation-only 15th annual Microsoft Glob... Read More
Apply to College? The Pandemic is (Still) Changing Testing Cirkled In Specific As if 2020 wasn’t enough of a wild ride, 2021 is proving to continue the upheaval of college admissions–and yes, w... Read More
Cirkled In Selected as CooleyED Pitch Event Participant Cirkled In Specific BELLEVUE-- Today, Cirkled In and company CEO and founder Reetu Gupta were named as participants in the 2021 ... Read More
College Application Checklist 2021 College Applications and Admissions Happy New Year! We’ve finally left 2020 behind and most are ready and eager to see what the new year has in ... Read More
We Wish You a Merry and Safe Holiday Season Cirkled In Specific Wow, the holidays are already upon us! Is it just us, or was April just yesterday?We’ve been... Read More
2020 – It’s a Wrap! Cirkled In Specific Unprecedented challenges in every sector of economy, unprecedented constraints in both home and work life, a... Read More
Kinja Bagalwa – September 2020 “No Sweat” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories Even amidst a pandemic, senior and September “No Sweat” Scholarship winner Kinja Bagalwa has gone above and ... Read More
What Motivation? Cirkled In Specific Wow, we’re finally at the end of an...interesting...year (to say the least). As we wrap up and head toward W... Read More
There are Things to be Thankful for in 2020 Cirkled In Specific As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we may rightfully be inclined to think about the COVID, tragedies, the electio... Read More
Switching Gears (Again): Back to Online Learning for Winter 2020 Cirkled In Specific As expected, COVID-19 cases are rising around the country as temperatures drop. For many, this means that sc... Read More
Coping with COVID Cirkled In Specific We’re less than two months away from 2021 and it’s safe to say that 2020 was a rough year.CO... Read More
The Time is Now, Go Vote. Cirkled In Specific Whether you’re a high schooler who just turned 18 or an 91-year-old grandma watching as her grandkids play i... Read More
Cirkled In CEO Reetu Gupta Awarded Popular Choice in National Fast Pitch Competition Cirkled In Specific SEATTLE-- Yesterday, Reetu Gupta, CEO and Founder of college admissions platform Cirkled In, placed second p... Read More
Talking to Teens About Voting Cirkled In Specific How can teens and parents have conversations around voting at such a stressful time? Here’s a few ways nonpa... Read More
Understanding College Admissions: Early Action vs. Early Decision College Applications and Admissions If you’re reading this, you are most likely in the midst of applying, or preparing to apply, to colleges all... Read More
FAFSA is Now Available: Here’s Why YOU Need to Care College Applications and Admissions Whether you’re a high school student or parent, you need to know about Free Application for Federal Student ... Read More
California Dropped SAT/ACT Requirement. What’s Next for Recruiters? Cirkled In Specific Times are changing for standardized testing. In a landmark Read More
Post-COVID-19: Part 7 – What Will College Admissions Look Like? With Cezar Mesquita Cirkled In Specific Our society is continuing to adapt rapidly in the midst of this pandemic, and one of the most important aspe... Read More
Standing Out: How to Make Your College App Pop as Standardized Testing Fades Away College Applications and Admissions Earlier this year, Cirkled In CEO Reetu Gupta wrote for Read More
Back to School: Success Comes from Communication, Whether In-Person or Online Raise your hand if the 2020-21 back-to-school season is different than any other you’ve exper... Read More
Welcome to Your Senior Year, Class of 2021! College Applications and Admissions Here at Cirkled In, we’re so excited to welcome students into their senior year of high school. We know thin... Read More
Post-COVID-19: Part 6 – What Will College Admissions Look Like? With Anna Miner Watch the entire video with Ms. Miner to hear her interesting perspectives on how COVID-19 has impacted and ... Read More
The COVID Crystal Ball: Looking at the Future of Testing and College Admissions Cirkled In Specific Back when all "this" started in March, I doubt that most people thought we would still be dealing with Covid... Read More
e-Learning requires e-Portfolio By now you are probably in the final stages of planning for the upcoming school year which could be all virt... Read More
Three Activities to Help Get Through a Summer with COVID Cirkled In Specific We can’t deny it--summer looks a lot different in 2020. With family vacations, cookouts, and beach days a di... Read More
Seeing COVID-19 from a Student’s Perspective: Part 5 Cirkled In Specific This week, rising-sophomore Vivian discusses how she’s spending her summer and the impending school year. Wi... Read More
Post COVID-19: Part 5 – What Will College Admissions Look Like The higher-ed industry has adapted immensely to these trying times, but there is still a long road of uncert... Read More
Cirkled In CEO Corner – July 10, 2020 Cirkled In Specific Wow. Summer is looking a lot different this year. How are your students and children holding up? With the co... Read More
Seeing COVID-19 from a Student’s Perspective: Part 4 Cirkled In Specific Summer is in full-swing! As kids await news on the fate of their fall semesters, we caught up with Adya, a h... Read More
Reflecting on Freedom in 2020 Cirkled In Specific To say the least, 2020 has been a transformative year. Many entered the new decade hopeful for change, new a... Read More
Seeing COVID-19 from a Student’s Perspective: Part 3 Cirkled In Specific Over the last few weeks, we’ve been honored to hear the high school and college perspectives of COVID-19. Th... Read More
Seeing COVID-19 from a Student’s Perspective: Part 2 Cirkled In Specific Our new series, Seeing COVID-19 from a Student’s Perspective continues with Ella Foster, a college freshman whose year w... Read More
Joel Guerrero – Second Winner of the Cirkled In $250 COVID-19 Relief Grant Student Success Stories What do “dream-chaser”, “volunteer”, and “passionate leader” all have in common... Read More
7 Ways to Make the Most of Post-COVID Summer! Cirkled In Specific High school seniors have officially graduated, marking the end of what was probably the strangest school year in history... Read More
Seeing COVID-19 from a Student’s Perspective: Part 1 Cirkled In Specific Here at Cirkled In, we’ve kept a pulse on how coronavirus has impacted schools and higher education across t... Read More
Cirkled In CEO Corner – June 12, 2020 Cirkled In Specific As students prepare to attend virtual proms, Zoom graduations, and even some in-person, socially-distanced c... Read More
Post COVID-19: Part 4 – What will College Admissions look like? Cirkled In Specific As a whole, higher education is making major changes during this time of uncertainty. To better grasp the pl... Read More
Della Paloy – April 2020 “No Sweat” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories Self-driven aptly describes Cirkled In’s April 2020 “No Sweat” Scholarship winner Della Palo... Read More
Silver Lining in Dark Cloud of COVID – End of Standardized Testing. Cirkled In Specific (This article authored by our CEO Reetu Gupta was originally published in Puget Sound Business Journal) While COVID-19 h... Read More
Nushrat Esha – First Winner of Cirkled In $250 COVID-19 Relief Grant Student Success Stories Make time to plan, create a schedule, and never procrastinate. The formula that has enabled our 1st COVID-19 Relie... Read More
Post COVID-19: Part 3 – What will College Admissions look like? Cirkled In Specific Amidst this new normal, it is crucial to get a an understanding of the ever-evolving higher-ed industry as they make maj... Read More
Silver lining in dark cloud: What did Corona do to our education system? (This article authored by our CEO Reetu Gupta was originally published in Puget Sound Business Journal) We are in u... Read More
Cirkled In CEO Corner – May 8, 2020 Cirkled In Specific Amid the crisis, the weeks are flying by. Students have little to no clarity about their education, parents ... Read More
Gathering Letters of Recommendation During a Pandemic COVID or no COVID, juniors should begin thinking about teacher letters of recommendation for... Read More
Post COVID-19: Part 2 – What will College Admissions look like? Cirkled In Specific Even though we have gotten used to having COVID19 as part of daily life, we are still uncertain on how next school year ... Read More
Post COVID-19: What will college admissions look like? In our pursuit of understanding the impact of COVID19 on higher education and helping colleges by providing industry ins... Read More
Test Optional: What Does it Mean? Cirkled In Specific Some colleges have recently announced plans to go test optional for Fall 2021 admissions due to COVID-19; ma... Read More
Navigating Your Student Through a Pandemic Cirkled In Specific As we all face the effects of the current pandemic together, I am sharing with the parents and students I wo... Read More
Advice from a College Counselor: See COVID-19 as a Learning Opportunity There is a popular saying that the only thing constant is change. That is certainly true to... Read More
Cirkled In: Offered FREE to Students, Teachers, Schools, and School Districts Cirkled In Specific Award-winning digital student platform now offered for FREE to students, teachers, schools, and school districts SEATTLE... Read More
COVID-19: Adding new challenges for college admission officers The Coronavirus Pandemic has totally upended Higher Education as a whole and literally shut down every campus in the Uni... Read More
COVID-19 IS MAKING STUDENTS RETHINK THEIR COLLEGE PLANS Cirkled In Specific Panic and unprecedented disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic has not only stressed the US healthcare system beyond ... Read More
Meet Jay Smith, our January “No Sweat” Scholarship Winner! Student Success Stories We are excited to announce the latest winner of the No Sweat Scholarship: Jay Smith. He has a determination and a drive ... Read More
To our Community of Educators and Parents… We are in unprecedented times and uncharted waters. We all are feeling anxious and unsure as things evolve every day and... Read More
Cirkled In CEO Corner – Friday, March 13 Cirkled In Specific With the constant news cycle, tweets, and thought pieces surrounding the pandemic plaguing c... Read More
Cirkled In CEO Corner – Friday, February 21, 2020 Cirkled In Specific Can you believe it’s almost March? As conference season quickly approaches, I’d like to invite colleagues, friends... Read More
Eight Quick SAT/ACT Tips to Boost Your Confidence College Applications and Admissions With SAT and ACT testing approaching, it can be a stressful time for parents and students. That’s why we’ve... Read More
Cirkled In CEO Corner – Friday, February 7, 2020 Cirkled In Specific Stay up to date with Cirkle... Read More
Making the Most of Mentoring Career Planning and Development It’s undeniable—whether you’re a student or a professional, mentoring and bein... Read More
Cirkled In Announced as a GSV Cup Elite 200 Presenter Cirkled In Specific Cirkled In is proud to announce that we have been selected as one of the Elite 200 companies who will compete in th... Read More
Three Benefits of Social Emotional Learning for Teens Mental Health and Well-Being Have you heard of social-emotional learning or SEL? If you search Google or Tw... Read More
Happy New Year from Cirkled In! Cirkled In Specific We we everyone a happy and productive 2020! To stay up-to-date with us, make sure you check us out on social media: (New... Read More
Keeping Students Motivated During the Holiday Season Mental Health and Well-Being While the holidays can bring excitement and joy, lack of motivation can set in for everyone—including students. We’ve ga... Read More
Check out Cirkled In at EDUCAUSE 2019 Cirkled In Specific In October, Cirkled In had the privilege to attend the 2019 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference in Chicago, IL. Between the Start... Read More
Clean Up Your Social Media in 3 Easy Steps College Applications and Admissions According to 2018 Kaplan Test PrepRead More
Meet Ian Blom, our July 2019 “No Sweat” Scholarship Winner! Student Success Stories We’re delighted to announce the latest winner of our “No Sweat Scholarship: Ian Blom”. Ian is a brilliant young man... Read More
Seven Ways to Rock Job Interviews in High School Career Planning and Development Finding a job takes time, hard work and preparation. Cirkledin has compiled a ... Read More
#BackToSchool: Four Ways to Up Your Peer Relationships Mental Health and Well-Being No matter the age, making friends can be a difficult and anxiety-ridden proces... Read More
Meet Jennifer Olivares, our “Design Your Own Elective” Scholarship Winner Student Success Stories Jennifer Olivares is a goal-setter and a change maker. With plans to become the first in her family to attend college, J... Read More
Meet Kaitlyn Taylor, our “Live Forever” Scholarship Winner! Student Success Stories Kaitlyn Taylor is passionate about serving others. By the time she graduates this spring, she will have devoted over 400... Read More
Operation Varsity Blues – through the eyes of a future college student (hopefully)! Cirkled In Specific Authored By: Prakriti Shukla, 10th Grade, Tesla STEM High School, Redmond, WA If you’re not living under a rock, you’ve ... Read More
Making it to the next level! Pro tips for higher profile completeness Cirkled In Specific Want to take your profile completeness to higher percentage? Here is what you need to do. So, you created a Cirkled In p... Read More
How to Increase Your Profile Completeness Cirkled In Specific Increasing your profile completeness percentage is easy! This quick guide will lead you through it step by step. How It ... Read More
How to Allow Access to Your Student Cirkled In Specific Parent Account: Allowing access to student You started Cirkled in account as a parent when your kids were younger. As th... Read More
How to Recommend a Student Cirkled In Specific You, as Advisers/Teachers can know your student with a 30 sec view of their profile. You can also write recommendations ... Read More
The College Admissions Process – The Finish Line or the Starting Point? College Applications and Admissions Parents and students often experience the college application process as a stressful and uncertain time. When the goal o... Read More
Meet Brittney: Cirkled In’s $2500 “Gift to the World” Scholarship Winner! Student Success Stories Brittney Burns uses both the left and right sides of her brain. The high school senior sings, dances, acts, and loves en... Read More
Meet Michael: Cirkled In’s $2500 “Back to School” Scholarship Winner! Student Success Stories Michael Maldonado: Key Club Lieutenant Governor, Band Vice President, National Honors S... Read More
2019’s Biggest College Admissions Trend: Getting Up Close and Personal! Cirkled In Specific There’s an exciting shift happening in colleges admissions – and it’s big enough to be ranked one of 2019’s bigges... Read More
One Simple Way to Reduce Stress in High School Mental Health and Well-Being Simply documenting your current plans for life after high school can help you feel a se... Read More
Meet our $2500 “Best Summer Ever” Scholarship Winner, Anisa Siddikova! Student Success Stories We’re thrilled to announce the winner of our $2500 “Best Summer Ever” Scholarship: Ani... Read More
Discovering Your Passions: Advice From a Glassblower Cirkled In Specific High School is an exciting time to explore you passions and understand what you might like to pursue in the future. We h... Read More
VIDEO: 12 Ways to Survive Freshman Year of High School! College Applications and Admissions Nervous for your freshman year of high school? Cirkled In has 12 tips to help you thro... Read More
How to Pick the Best College For You College Applications and Admissions There are so many factors that go into finding the right college for you. A few things that you need to consider are the... Read More
12 Steps on Your College Application Timeline College Applications and Admissions Applying to college is a long, multi-step journey that high schoolers embark on starting their junior year. Here’s... Read More
14 Things to Add to Your High School Bucket List College Applications and Admissions High School: it’s 4 years of your life, but it goes by quicker than you think! It’s important to set goals f... Read More
College Applications: A Journey of Self-Discovery College Applications and Admissions The college application process is often viewed as a huge burden put on high schoolers from the moment they enter 9th gr... Read More
Giving Them Wings to Fly: A Mom’s Perspective on Middle School Cirkled In Specific A mom chats about handling her son’s natural pull away process Interview with Rachel Roland Middle school is not only a ... Read More
Increasing Middle School Independence: How much is too much? Mental Health and Well-Being A mom chats about balancing freedom with a safety net for her kids Interview with Shannon Longcore Middle school is a ti... Read More
Screen Time in Middle School: Get Ready For More of it. Mental Health and Well-Being A mom chats about technology and raising a son in a new culture. Interview with Ritu Maloo As part of our Middle School ... Read More
Handling Stress in Middle School: How much pressure should you put on your kids? Mental Health and Well-Being A mom chats about monitoring parental pressure Interview with Mollishree Sawhney When children in middle school start to... Read More
4 Steps to Making the Most of Your Summer Mental Health and Well-Being Can you believe that summer is almost over? Fall is just around the corner and that means school will be back in session... Read More
Meet Our Gold Medal $2,500 Scholarship Winner! Student Success Stories We’re delighted to announce the winner of our $2500 Gold Medal Scholarship: Kevin Ayala.Kevin is a first-generation... Read More
We asked 6 Questions to College Admissions Officers and Here’s What They Said College Applications and Admissions College application season is rapidly approaching. During these summer months, rising seniors spend much of their time s... Read More
Common Application Prompts: Question 6 College Applications and Admissions Question 6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does i... Read More
The Secret to College Applications? Confidence. College Applications and Admissions Grades can be frustrating. You’ve worked especially hard in a particular class, and yet, the grade your teacher has give... Read More
4 Steps to Planning Your College Visit College Applications and Admissions The flowers are blooming, the morning frost is fading, and many high school juniors are beginning to research colleges. ... Read More
What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up? Cirkled In Specific “What do you want to be when you grow up?” This question is asked many times during childhood, and most children answer ... Read More
4 Rules for Summer College Visits College Applications and Admissions We all know that summer is one of the most popular times for students to visit colleges. High school juniors and seniors... Read More
Common Application Prompts: Question 5 College Applications and Admissions Question 5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understa... Read More
Common Application Prompts: Question 4 (retited in 2024-2025) College Applications and Admissions Understanding Common App Prompt 4 Question 4: Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to so... Read More
11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer Mental Health and Well-Being ☀ Need last minute summer ideas? ☀ Don’t stress if you didn’t sign up for a summer camp, internshi... Read More
Common Application Prompts: Question 3 College Applications and Admissions Question 3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was ... Read More
Common Application Prompts: Question 2 College Applications and Admissions Question 2 asks you to write about a challenge, setback, or failure. Colleges want to understand more than just your ach... Read More
Common App Essay Prompts: Question 1 College Applications and Admissions A visual guide to Common Application Essay Prompt 1, focusing on background, identity, interests, talents, personal... Read More
What Type of Volunteer Work is Right For You? College Applications and Admissions Volunteer work is a popular activity for middle school and high school students for many reasons. First, it is a great w... Read More
Finding Colleges That Call Your Name College Applications and Admissions You’ve done the legwork, you’re ahead of the game and all your applications were in before the deadlines! Ri... Read More
When You’re on a Break, Take a Break Mental Health and Well-Being The holiday season is happening. Wait. An extra couple days off? Someone else may be doing some delicious cooking and yo... Read More
5 Ways to Prep For Your Next Interview Resume and Portfolio Building Academics? Membership? General financial livelihood? If your life is intertwined with any of these future situations, th... Read More
3 Reasons Why All Students Need A Career Portfolio Resume and Portfolio Building Let’s face it. Searching and applying for jobs via an ad in a newspaper is now considered a fairy tale. It’s... Read More
Cirkled in™ Honored as Grand Stevie® Awards Winner! Cirkled In Specific Cirkled in™ Honored as Grand Stevie® Awards Winner after winning 5 Gold and 2 Bronze awards in “2017 AMERICAN BUSINESS A... Read More
Cirkled in wins one Gold and three Silver Stevie® Awards in 2016 Cirkled In Specific Cirkled in™ wins one Gold and three Silver Stevie® Awards in 2016 STEVIE AWARDS FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS Cirkled in™ t... Read More