PREPARING FOR COLLEGE
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Do well in school.
Visit colleges
Compare colleges
Find out admissions requirements
Take SAT/ACT
Apply to colleges
Apply for scholarships
Wait for admissions letters
Choose college
SAT
The SAT test is a national college admissions test for students interested in pursuing
education beyond high school.
This 3 hour and 45 minute test covers the following:
•Writing
•Critical Reading
•Math
Most test questions are multiple choice, although the first writing section (there are
two) is an essay and the math sections may include some open-answer questions.
ACT
The ACT test (American College Test) is a national college admissions test for students
interested in pursuing education beyond high school. Most colleges accept both ACT
and SAT scores, so it is up to you whether you want to take one or both tests.
The ACT test covers the following subject areas:
•English
•Math
•Reading
•Science
•Writing (optional)
Most test questions are multiple choice, although the optional writing test is an essay.
Expect to spend more than 4 hours at the testing center.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship book located in the counselor's
office.
Visit www.aaaeeff.org regularly
Check with your college advisor (me!) for
scholarships as well
FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID
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AKA FAFSA
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Complete FAFSA regardless of family’s economic status
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Renew FAFSA every year.
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Apply for student aid as early as possible
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Always apply for “free” student aid - grants and scholarships – first
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Beware of student aid scams
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Educate yourself about the different types of loans: subsidized and unsubsidized
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Compare apples to apples when you look at the cost of education
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Don’t let tuition costs prevent you from applying to a college you want to go to
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Get to know people in your financial aid office
COMPLETING YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
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Know your deadlines
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Read the instructions
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Provide all of the requested info
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Be honest
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Proofread, proofread, proofread.
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Choose your recommendations wisely
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Make sure your essay represents who you are
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Request copies of transcripts
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Keep copies of everything
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Confirm that your application materials arrived.
COLLEGE ESSAY TIPS
1. Hook the reader with an opening
2. Focus on a small subject even if you are conveying a big idea
3. Avoid “ten dollar SAT words”
4. Show, don’t tell
5. Prune unneeded adjectives and adverbs – which means most of them
6. Have an ending which leaves the reader wanting more
7. Read every essay aloud to make sure it sounds right – even if your family thinks
you are crazy
8. The college admissions process is about discovering who you are – don’t be
afraid to put yourself out there in your essay.
COLLEGE ESSAY TIPS CONTINUED
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Every sentence must be 10 words long
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Every paragraph must have 5 sentences
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Every Essay must have 5 paragraphs
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Minimum of 250 words
Did you know that if you send more than 1,000 texts a month , you can write this
essay in less than 3 minutes?
QUESTIONS???