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University of South Carolina Mentoring

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For London, Mentee

Miles Moody, Mentor


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School

School is hard and everyone hates going to school but its just
something that needs to get done. You learn how to be able to perform in
the outside world and gain a wide range of knowledge from different
subjects. You also learn a lot of life skills in school so it is important that you
make sure you are going to class and doing the work you have to do because
no one is going to give you a free pass, especially as you get older. I have
added some information that I think you find helpful and may help you get
through the next couple years until it is time for college. You will find:
 Study Skills
 SAT Tips and Information
 ACT Tips and Information
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6 Study Skills

Step 1: Test Preparation

Step 2: Avoiding Procrastination

Step 3: Time Management

Step 4: Reading and Taking Notes

Step 5: Test Taking

Step 6: Managing Stress


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Recreation

There are a lot of different recreational activities that you can


participate in that can range from sports camps to community service. Here
are some of my recommendations for activities you may be interested in.
 University of South Carolina Sport camps
 Gyms/Fitness Centers
 Community Service Opportunities
In the following pages you will be able to find directions that can help
you follow through with some of these opportunities that you are being
presented with.
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University of South Carolina Sport Camps

Step 1: Follow this link: http://www.gamecocksonline.com/camps/scar-camps.html or type into


Google “University of South Carolina camps” and navigate to find the link to Gamecocks Online.

Step 2: Once you are at the site, you can scroll through the different sports for which the
University of South Carolina offers camps. They have camps for Basketball, Baseball, and Football.

 Basketball – I highly recommend taking a look at the Elite Camp offered by


Frank Martin. This is a great opportunity to show the staff what you have to
offer as a walk on. This is also a great time to talk to the coaches about your
chances and allow them to scout you. The cost for this one-day camp is $40 and
you must pay close attention to the date as this camp is limited to the first 40
people to register. You must also be in grades 9-12. I have attached the old 2017
Brochure to give you and idea.
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Step 3: Add the camp to your cart and check out to secure your spot in the camp. Also make sure
you fill out the registration form and send it back promptly

Gyms/Fitness Centers

As an athlete you need to make sure that you are always staying in shape. For someone with
high expectations like yourself, you must make sure you are staying active and finding ways to get
some workouts in at least 4 times a week. I know that you have already told me you have a gym you
can use but in case that ever fails I have some options for you.

Option 1: You can choose to go for a great free option, which consists of finding an open space
either inside your house or outside on a nice day. You can even find bags and stuff them with heavy
objects to create weights. You can add this weight while running or to use as dumbbells at home.
Once you have all of that you can look up different workouts on Google. Here is an example:
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Option 2: Another great option is to use the gym at Airport High School. This is another great
cheap and free option that you can se at your disposal and I highly recommend using this resource as
much as possible as the last option will cost money. Save your money when possible!

Option 3: The last option is that you can get a gym membership at a couple different places. I
personally like Planet Fitness because it’s a great steal at only $10 a month. Or you can go to a gym
like Body Quest and pay $25 a month. It all depends on which environment you like better.
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Community Service

Community service is a great way to get involved within your community. There are an over
abundance of opportunities out there. You can do anything from building houses to helping out in
family shelters. Help is always needed and wanted by those in need.
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Step 1: First, you should think about what activities entice you and what and where you may want
to help. This can help narrow down the search before you look at Google.

Step 2: Next you should go into Google and search for either specific or non-specific volunteer
opportunities. I put some opportunities below here but there are endless chances to help out and in
any facet.

 Volunteers of America
o Visit www.voa.org/find-an-office
o Find the office near you and give them a call about their opportunities

 Family Shelter
o Contact Laura Stokes
o lstokes@homelessnomoresc.org or
o 803-602-6379 Ext. 1

 Ronald McDonald House Charities


o Call 8032-254-3181 or
o Email staff@rmhcofcolumbia.org

 Habitat For Humanity


o Call 803-252-3570
o Email rkramer@habitatcsc.org
o Visit www.midlandshabitat.org to learn more.

Vocation
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Throughout the year we talked a lot about your future and what it’s
going to take to get there. This all starts with your next step after high
school. You should be able to find a lot of things here about how to apply to
each school we talked about.
 Midlands Technical College
 Transfer to the University of South Carolina
 FAFSA
In the following pages you will be able to find instructions on how to
complete these different applications. This is only a step in the right
direction. The next step is for you to follow through with your promise to
yourself and use this guide as a stepping-stone to get you started on the
right path to college. There are other options you can pursue, as this is only
an idea.

Midlands Technical College

How to apply to Midlands Technical College:


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Step 1: Follow this link: https://www.midlandstech.edu/admissions/apply-mtc or type into Google


“Midlands Technical College Apply Now” and navigate to find the link.

Step 2: Once you are at the site, you can scroll down and hit the “Apply Online” button. Make sure
that you are filling out all of your forms correctly and remember to take your time and double check
everything before you hit apply. You never want to make a mistake on a finalized form.

Step 3: After you submit your application, you will get an email about your very own Midlands
Tech password and username. You can use this to view your admission status and update your
application if need be.

If you get lost during the admissions process, do not fret. I have added Midlands Technical
College Office of Admissions information below:

MTC Office of Admissions

Email: admissions@midlandstech.edu

Phone: 803-738-7839

Address: P.O. Box 2408

Columbia, SC 29202

University of South Carolina

How to transfer to University of South Carolina from Midlands Technical College:


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Step 1: Follow this link: https://apply.sc.edu/apply/ or type into Google “University of South
Carolina Transfer Application” and navigate to find the link.

Step 2: Once you are on the site you will need to create an account and then click “Start New
Application”.

Step 3: After you submit your application, you will need to pay a $65 application fee that may be
subject to change in the future. Also you will need to ask for official transcripts from Midlands Tech
and have them send it over to USC. Also you will need your high school transcripts and SAT/ACT
scores as well.

If you get lost during the admissions process just call the admissions office and they will be
glad to assist you. I have added the University of South Carolina Office of Admissions information
below:

UofSC Office of Admissions-Transfer

Email: admtrans@mailbox.sc.edu

Phone: 803-777-7700

Name: Spencer Griffin

FAFSA

FAFSE is a great resource when it comes to paying for college, applying for this means that you
are applying for a loan from the U.S. Department of Education. The main idea of this is to help fund
students interests in secondary schooling at a higher institution. How to apply for the FAFSA is below:
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Step 1: Follow this link: https://fafsa.ed.gov or type into Google “FAFSA form” and navigate to
find the link.

Step 2: Once you are on the site you will need to “Start a new FAFSA” and by doing so you will
have to create an account that you will need for future references. Simply just follow the directions on
the form and fill it out correctly. THIS IS EXTRMELY IMPORTANT!

If you get lost during the process just head to the help page on the FAFSA website. There you
can likely find the help you will need. If not call them at 1-800-433-3243.

Life Skills
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During the year we were not really able to talk a whole lot about life
skills and what’s important to know when you get older. I think so of the
most important things to learn in life deals a lot with getting a job. I know
that you want to play basketball in the pros but in this section I will share
with you some documents that I found to be extremely helpful. Some of
these documents may include information to help with:
 Interview Skills and Questions
 Proper Attire when Job Searching
 Financial Literacy-How to write a check

These topics are extremely important when it comes to your future and
where you want to be. You need to have a job to make money and also you
need to know what to do with your money when you have it.

Top 10 Interview Questions and Best Answers


Review the top 10 interview questions you'll most likely be asked at a job interview, plus the best
answers. Also, review other questions you may be asked, so you're prepared to ace the interview.
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1. What is your greatest strength? -


This is one of the questions that employers almost always ask. When you are asked about your
greatest strengths, it's important to discuss the attributes that will qualify you for the specific job and
set you apart from the other candidates.

2. What is your greatest weakness?


Another typical question interviewers will ask is about your weaknesses. Do your best to frame your
answers around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an employee.

3. Tell me about yourself.


Here’s how to answer questions about you without giving out too much – or too little – personal
information. Start by sharing some of your personal interests which don't relate directly to work.

4. Why should we hire you?


Are you the best candidate for the job? Be prepared to say why. Make your response a concise sales
pitch that explains what you have to offer the employer, and why you should get the job.

5. What are your salary expectations?


What are you looking for in terms of salary? It seems like a simple question, but your answer can knock
you out of content for the job if you overprice yourself. Here's the best way to answer questions about
salary.

6. Why are you leaving or have left your job?


When asked about why you are moving on, stick with the facts, be direct and focus your interview
answer on the future, especially if your leaving wasn't under the best of circumstances.

7. Why do you want this job?


This question gives you an opportunity to show the interviewer what you know about the job and the
company. Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role, and mention aspects of the
company and position that appeal to you.

8. How do you handle stress and pressure?


What do you do when things don’t go smoothly at work? The best way to respond to this question is
to give an example of how you have handled stress in a previous job.

9. Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it.
The interviewer wants to know what you do when you face a difficult decision. As with the question
about stress, be prepared to share an example of what you did in a tough situation.

10. What are your goals for the future?


This question is designed to find out if you’re going to stick around or move on as soon as you find a
better opportunity. Keep your answer focused on the job and the company you’re interviewing with.
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How to Dress for a Professional Interview

Men's Interview Attire


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Here are examples of interview outfits for men. For a professional interview, men can default to wearing
a suit. All clothes should fit well and not have any stains. Here are the fundamental items a man wears
during a professional interview:

 Suit (solid color - navy, black, or dark grey)


 Long sleeved shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
 Belt
 Tie (here's how to tie it)
 Dark socks, conservative leather shoes
 Little or no jewelry
 Neat, professional hairstyle
 Limit the aftershave
 Neatly trimmed nails
 Portfolio or briefcase

What Not to Bring to the Interview

 Gum
 Coffee or soda
 If you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home (earrings only, is a good rule)
 Cover tattoos if possible

While you can bring your smart phone, do make sure to turn it off or put it in airplane mode during
your interview. This will help you avoid the risk of getting a loud text alert or phone call mid-interview.

Interview Attire Tips

 Before you even think about going on an interview, make sure you have appropriate interview
attire and everything fits correctly.

 Get your clothes ready the night before, so you don't have to spend time getting them ready
on the day of the interview.
 If your clothes are dry clean only, take them to the cleaners after an interview, so they are
ready for next time.

 Polish your shoes.


 Bring a breath mint and use it before you enter the building.

How to Write a Check


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Step 1: Date the Check in the top right corner.

Step 2: Add the person you are paying in the “Pay to the order of” field

Step 3: Write the amount that you wish to pay in numbers in the box.

Step 4: Hand-write the dollar amount using words.

Step 5: Fill in the memo field on the bottom left.

Step 6: Sign the check in the bottom rightcheck

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