Applying to college?

Some counselors don’t have a clue and others think their main job responsibility is hiding from students. I didn’t know my school even had counselors and one of my female friends was told by a counselor that she couldn’t apply to a (co-ed) college because it was only for men.

Generally, parents are the source of information for the college application process. However, if students have parents who didn’t attend college and don’t know how to apply to college, those students are placed at a disadvantage.

In your junior year, you register for the PSAT. Then you select schools within the level of difficulty you can handle based on your GPA and your PSAT test scores. If you have not taken a PSAT, you should sign an SAT prep book out of the library. You should most definitely take an SAT sample test from the book before you take the real thing. The directions are always the same and if you are not familiar with them, you will be reading the directions while the other students are filling in answers. Since it is a timed test, those who already know the direction will do better. When you take a practice test, make sure the book can help you calculate your test score because if you didn’t take the PSAT, you will have to use this practice test score to help you select appropriate colleges.

You should take your SAT or ACT this fall. The ACT is a similar test to the SAT and is accepted by many colleges. The ACT has a science portion, in addition to math, reading and writing. When you take the test, you will list all of the colleges to which you wish to apply on the test application. After the test is graded, your scores will be sent to each college.

You can search for appropriate colleges on the Internet. You will want to see what their admission requirements are. They will want an application, your grades and your SAT test scores along with teacher recommendations. All of the applications are on the Internet. Your colleges will give you application deadline which may be around Thanksgiving. Your application will cause a folder to be started on you. Into this folder will go your application, teacher recommendations, SAT test scores and your grade report though 1st semester senior year. Your second semester grade report will be sent in May. A college may offer you a contingent acceptance prior to receiving your final grades. If your grades are too low, they will withdraw your acceptance.

There are many non-selective rolling-admissions colleges. With some of these you can finish your entire senior year and then apply. You will want to talk to admissions to ascertain what is in your best interest. If you do better senior year and get rejected based on first semester grades only, perhaps you can ask for a review if your second semester grades are higher.

You should definitely apply to the colleges by Thanksgiving. However, each college has their own individual deadline so you probably want to check with the colleges as well. Since your GPA is average, applying early will probably help you out rather than waiting until the deadlines. Some colleges will also request for your final transcripts at the end of the school year so it is still a good idea to raise your GPA.

As far as the SAT, most colleges require SAT scores before they decide on whether to admit you or not. So you should take the SAT as soon as possible so the scores will be sent to the college around the time you send off your applications.

Yes, you should take your SAT or ACT before you apply. You’ll need those scores on your application, but some schools will wait if you talk to an admissions counselor and tell them you have the test scheduled and on its way. Try to get that done ASAP.

Some schools unfortunately will not look at your last-semester grades. Right now it’s most important for you to write an excellent personal essay – get as much help with it as possible. Have teachers read it and give you advice. 2.5 isn’t terrible – it’s a B/C. I’m fairly sure you’ll get accepted at some school or other.

Call the schools you’re applying to and ask to speak to an admissions advisor – tell them your situation and that you’re planning to hike your GPA this last semester of school and are determined to do well freshman year of college. Some schools will accept you on a provisional basis, meaning they’ll take you in freshman year and you’ll have to demonstrate success before being allowed to continue on to sophomore year.

First. Figure where you are going to apply too. Second. Your GPA displays a lack of planning. If your applying to a serious college, you might raise your GPA by attending a 2 yr college first for your basics. Finally. Before you apply to a college find out about your course of study and interview your professors before taking a class.

It depends on what type of college you’re trying to get into. If you’re looking at a prestigious school, you should apply as early as possible as there aren’t very many positions open, and your ACT/SAT score is sometimes required for schools like that. If you’re looking at a Community College, you can almost apply in May and still get in without an ACT score. It all depends on what you’re looking for.