The FAFSA
You will first need to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).. This is used to determine what kind of aid you are eligible for. Make sure you communicate with your parents and get all the needed tax forms ready early. Having all your tax forms will make filling this out very easy.
Once your FAFSA is evaluated you will be given an EFC number, or your Expected Family Contribution. The school you plan to attend should be able to cover your expenses up to that amount, and the rest you will have to pay.

CSS Profile
If you are applying to private schools you will probably need to fill out a CSS Profile. This is just a more in-depth version of the FAFSA so the schools can get a better idea of the aid you need. This is usually only relevant to private schools because they are able to offer university grants which public schools usually do not offer. The CSS profile can be found on Collegeboard.

Types of Aid
Your financial aid package might include grants, work study, and loans. A grant is money you never have to pay back. Work study means you can get a job on campus once you are attending and work to get the amount of money they list. If you are work-study you will have no trouble getting a job on campus because they are obligated to give you one. Loans offered will either be subsidized or unsubsidized. Unsubsidized loans accumulate interest while you are in school, however subsidized loans do not. Other forms of aid can include scholarships, which will be covered in another article.

Words of Advice
Do not avoid a school because you think you will not be able to afford it. A private institution which costs upwards of $50,000 a year may come out cheaper than a public school that costs $13,000 because of the aid the private university is able to offer.
Do not skip the FAFSA because you think your income is way over the ceiling for aid. Apply and see what happens. I know people who did not apply their first year because they though they wouldn’t get anything, and then applied the year after and got some help from the government and their school.

Cost to Attend
The easiest way to find out how much a school will cost you to attend is to go to the institutions website and look at their estimations. Don’t let $50,000 a year scare you – many colleges offer very generous financial aid packages. I know people who get paid to go to private institutions and 90% of their aid is from grants! A separate article will be dedicated to applying for financial aid, so make sure to check that out.

Majors Offered
You can go to any college or university’s website to find out what majors they offer. Even if you don’t know what you want to do yet, take a look to see if there are any majors that interest you. Also, remember that a major choice does not mean a career choice, so find something you think you will enjoy and do well in.

Size of School
There are pros and cons for both large schools and small schools. Many people feel they get to interact and connect more with professors and faculty at small schools. Larger schools, however, may give you more opportunities to be involved in extracurricular activities, and also usually offer a broader range of majors.

Location
Be sure to check out the surrounding area of the school before you decided to attend so you don’t get stuck somewhere you would never want to live. The area you live in can have a huge impact on your college experience, so be sure to visit each campus before you decide to attend.

What does the test look like?
The ACT is broken down into four multiple choice sections: English, math, reading comprehension, and science. You get three hours to complete the 215 multiple choice questions, and there is also one optional essay. This test may be better for the more “science minded” because the essay is optional and you get a chance to outshine those with less ability in the sciences.

How is the ACT scored?
The ACT, unlike the SAT, is scored on a scaled system. Your scaled score will depend on how everyone else did on the exam. The SAT is different because they just use the raw score. Keep in mind that the point system is also different between the SAT and ACT. A 34 on the ACT does not mean a 34 out of 2400!

So should I take the SAT or the ACT?
Students are encouraged to try both tests and see which one they do best on. Some people find one easier than the other, and from my experiences I have found that most people think the ACT is easier. Do not just take the SAT because you think it looks better than ACT to colleges. All colleges and universities accept the ACT – your chances of getting in to a particular college will be the same with equivalent ACT and SAT scores.

Final Words
Just as with the SAT, make sure to take the ACT early so you have time to retake the test if you decide to do so.

How the test is set up
The SAT consists of three main categories: Writing, Critical Reading, and Math. Each section is worth 800 points, adding up to a total possible of 2400. During the test, these categories are broken into smaller sections. Each section is timed and the test comesout to 3 hours.

How high should you score on the SAT?
Go to www.collegeboard.com and search colleges you are interested in. Take a look at the averages and set yourself a reasonable goal. If you are above average or close to average, you greatly increase your chances of getting into the college.

How many times can I take the test?
You can take the test as many times as you want, but it is not advised to go over three tries. If you do good the first time, stick to it. If you KNOW you can do better, consider taking the test again. Most people I know were able to improve by 100 pts each time they took the test again. Remember, colleges will notice the improvement and take it into consideration.

This is your chance…
Your score on the SAT can make or break your college application. Many people don’t realize the importance of this test and think that good grades and extracurricular will overshadow their low SAT score. This can happen sometimes, but most people I know with a low SAT did not get into the colleges they wanted, despite their great GPA and outstanding extracurriculars. In the end, the SAT just seems to be the measuring stick.

How to get the score you want on the SAT
Stay tuned, this will be covered in detail in a later article!

Volunteer at a library
Go to your local library and ask them if they have any volunteer positions open. Usually you will be able to get a position right away. The good thing about volunteering at the library is that hours are very flexible, and the work you do is very easy.

Volunteer at a hospital
Hospitals are always looking for volunteers to help keep things running smoothly. If you are interest in pursuing a career in healthcare, this is probably the perfect volunteer activity for you. Though you will probably just be doing paperwork, running errands, or delivering food and water to patients, you can still learn how things work in a hospital. You can also develop your bedside manner if you hope to become a doctor someday.

Volunteer at a kindergarten or elementary school
Volunteering at a kindergarten or elementary school could be very enjoyable and rewarding if you like working with kids. You would probably be teaching them basic math or English, or helping out with after school activities.

Volunteering at a religious institution
If you attend a church, mosque, temple, or something similar, you should ask around and see if you could obtain a volunteer position there. Tasks will be highly variable depending on the institution, but chances are they can use your help!

Final words
Though most colleges do not have community service requirements, your participation in volunteer activities will make a far more competitive applicant. You do not need thousands of volunteer hours – aim for 80 to 100 hours spread out between a few years and you will be in good shape.

Your score on the SAT will be one of the most important factors colleges will take into consideration during admissions.   Make sure you know what the test is, and devise a plan to conquer it.

How the test is set up

The SAT consists of three main categories: Writing, Critical Reading, and Math.   Each section is worth 800 points, adding up to a total possible of 2400.   During the test, these categories are broken into smaller  sections.  Each section is timed and the test comesout to 3 hours.

How high should you score on the SAT?

Go to www.collegeboard.com and search colleges you are interested in.  Take a look at the averages and set yourself a reasonable goal.  If you are above average or close to average, you greatly increase your chances of getting into the college.

How many times can I take the test?

You can take the test as many times as you want, but it is not advised to go over three tries.   If you do good the first time, stick to it.  If you KNOW you can do better, consider taking the test again.  Most people I know were able to improve by 100 pts each time they took the test again.  Remember, colleges will notice the improvement and take it into consideration.

This is your chance…

Your score on the SAT can make or break your college application.   Many people don’t realize the importance of this test and think that good grades and extracurricular will overshadow their low SAT score.  This can happen sometimes, but most people I know with a low SAT did not get into the colleges they wanted, despite their great GPA and outstanding extracurriculars.  In the end, the SAT just seems to be the measuring stick.

How to get the score you want on the SAT

Stay tuned, this will be covered in detail in a later article!

How high does my GPA need to be?

Looking at the most recent GPA average data provided by your prospective schools is one of the best ways to figure out if your GPA is competitive or not.   This data is available on www.collegeboard.com.   Simply search for the college you’re interested in and look at the average GPA of the latest class admitted.   Other ways to find out if your GPA is competitive is to talk to your college counselor, or to students who are actually attending the college you want to get into.

Determing un-weighted GPA

In order to determine your un-weighted GPA, simply assign these scores to each of your grades

A: 4

B: 3

C: 2

D: 1

F: 0

Total up all your scores and divide that number by the number of grades. This is the most simple method, though some schools may use a (+) and (-) system. The number you get should be between 0.00 - 4.00. If you have taken AP courses you will also have what is called a “weighted GPA”

Determing weighted GPA, and why some people have above 4.0

Weighted GPA takes into account AP classes.  You will calculate this GPA the same way you did your unweighted, except this time for every AP class you will add 1 extra point.  For example if you got an A in AP Chemistry you will count that as 5 points.

Is it necessary to get over 4.0?

Again, how high your GPA needs to be will depends on the college you plan to get into.   For top tier colleges, you will definitely need over a 4.0.   Take as many AP classes you can handle, and reap the benefits.  Colleges love to see studnets taking many AP courses, and if you pass the exams at the end you can even may even be able to waive a few courses when you actually get to colleges.  Succeeding in AP classes also demonstrates to colleges that you will be able to handle the workload in college.

Final Words

Earning a great GPA is more about patience and hardwork than it is about smarts.  Many people get lazy and may mess up their GPA in one semester.  This can jeopardize their chances to get into many schools.  Stay persistent and know that your hardwork will pay off.  If you already have a low GPA, try to make up for it with a high SAT score, or great extracurriculars.

Welcome to Getting2College.com! Have you ever thought about going to college? Are you confused about what to do to get there? Do you think you already know what it takes? Whatever you’re situation, we can help.

We will guide you through everything you need to know about getting into college. Follow our guidance, work hard, stay persistent, and get into college!