College Admissions FAQ: Answers to the Most Common Questions

If you’re in high school, deciding on when you should submit an application for college is one of the major decisions you have to make. Many students already have some colleges in mind but for those who are still undecided, specifically on what courses to take; this can pose as a big challenge.
The college where you will graduate from can influence your chances of getting a decent job in the future. Many companies are hiring professionals coming from reputable colleges. Thought it’s hard to be accepted in prestigious colleges and universities, submitting your application early gives you edge over those who submit their application late.

So when is the best time to submit an application for college? Well, you definitely have to send your application long before graduation day. You can start submitting them to various colleges of your choice once you have decided on your major or courses you want to take. Try to consider at least three colleges and send your application to them.

Submitting your application for college earlier on is advantageous because you can be informed sooner if you get in or not. This way, it won’t be too late to submit your application to other colleges in case you’re turned down.

Do you know that you can avail of various scholarships and grants in college? As a matter of fact, many students who can’t afford a college education apply for scholarships and grants long before they graduate from high school. That’s because there are numerous applicant who are hoping to avail of such privileges which is why it’s imperative that you start applying for them earlier on.

It’s never too early to apply for college scholarships and grants. If you’re in your last year in high school, you should start sending out your application the moment you’ve already decided on what degree to take in college. There are all kinds of scholarships and grants out there such as those offered for students who excel in the field of academics, arts, sports, and many more.

The cost of college education is very expensive but you can still avail of quality education from top performing colleges or universities once you’re a recipient of a scholarship or grant. All you have to do is apply for them once they start accepting applications. Keep yourself posted by visiting websites of government, private organizations, and colleges that offer these scholarships and grants.

Don’t wait for the deadline to send in your application. It is always best to submit them the moment they become open for applications. This way, you can apply not just to one but also to other scholarships and grants where you qualify.

Whether you’re applying for a scholarship or grant or to a particular college you wish to enroll in, it’s important that you have a broad list of community services on your applications. Here’s why:

Spark interest

Every year, thousands of students apply for scholarships or grants and in colleges. In order to catch the attention of those who are screening the applicants, you need to include in your application something interesting such as your list of community services. Not all applicants do this anymore, thinking their high grades are enough. Even if your grades aren’t very impressive, you can still wow them with your love for your community.

Land scholarships or grants

Once the university or college is impressed with your list of community services they can award you a scholarship or grant which suits you best. They can offer a lot of privileges and even recommend you to some non-government organizations in the community that can help you pay for your college education.

Improve your chances

Good grades alone won’t impress people like those who screen applicants for college and scholarships. You need to wow them with your community services. If you are an active member in your community, volunteers and supports projects, and at the same time contribute in the development of your community even in your own little way, these can guarantee your slot.

Recommendations are necessary when you’re applying for college or scholarships. They’re just what you need to improve your chances of getting into a college of your choice and in availing a scholarship that can help you pay your way through college. These are usually given by your high school principal or teachers. In some cases, even a prominent member of your community like the mayor can recommend you.

So how do you request a recommendation for college and scholarship applications? The first thing you have to do is identify the person from whom you’ll request the recommendation from. For instance, if the college you’re applying to requires a recommendation from your school principal or teacher, then you have to approach them and ask personally. This is an easy task because school personnel are more than willing to help students earn a scholarship or get into a college where they wish to pursue their degree.

Getting recommendations is not so difficult especially if you have a good record from the school where you’re presently enrolled. In fact, there are school principals and teachers who recommend outstanding students without being asked. If you’re one of them, then you’re very fortunate because you no longer have to request for recommendations.

Not everybody is born with a gift in writing knockout essays but this doesn’t mean you don’t stand a chance when it comes to writing an essay for college and scholarship applications. Writing an essay is a part of the application process because it is one way for people to assess whether or not you qualify for a scholarship or college in addition to your grades, co-curricular activities, and qualifying exams results.

Even in the elementary grades, students are already taught the basics of how to write essays. Many teachers also assign papers that involve essay writing in high school. In writing one, you have to bear in mind the different parts of an essay namely the introduction, body, and conclusion.

The first thing you have to do is to analyze the topic or question at hand. Is it something you’re familiar with? Do you need to conduct extra research to make your essay more convincing? Once you’ve done some brainstorming and a little research, you’re ready to make your draft.

Start by having a witty introduction which can be in a form of a quotation, question, or even a story line. You need to organize your ideas especially in writing the body of your essay. You can do this by stating the most important points first and accompany them with samples or explanations. Finally, wrap up your essay with a summary of the important points, answering your question in the introduction, or include another quotation.

Most importantly, read your work several times and check for errors. Better yet, let somebody read it or ask for suggestions from your teacher.

Nowadays, it’s very difficult to find a college to enroll in because there are so many of them to choose from. There are those which have been around for several years already while there are also those that are still new. For someone who’s very excited to be in college, choosing the right school can be a challenge.

Many colleges inform students about their institution, programs offered, and other information through flyers or pamphlets which are distributed around school. Others have their own official website where students can easily read information about them and see pictures of the school. However, this is nothing compared to actually seeing the real thing in person.

It’s very important that you get to visit the colleges you are considering applying for because one of them will serve as your home for the duration of your college years. Pictures alone can’t help you decide whether the college is indeed a nice place to study in. You should see for yourself the facilities the school has to offer especially their classrooms and dormitories. There are cases wherein the photos are a lot different than the real thing because they’re being posted online simply to attract students like you. However, if you visit the school personally, you can tell if the pictures are indeed real or not.

Further, you may have questions which aren’t answered in the college’s websites or pamphlets. You can ask them personally once you visit the college and get a straight and honest answer. As a matter of fact, you can personally ask students from the colleges you’ll visit and learn other information about the school from them.

Financial aid is essentially any money given to a student in order to help pay for that student’s schooling, including tuition, textbooks and other supplies, and living expenses. Students can apply for student aid by filling out the FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid) or by contacting the many private institutions which offer student aid.

There are several different types of student aid. Some are based on need, such as a low-income family situation, whereas others are based on merit, such as an academic scholarship.

Students can earn scholarships based on their grades, academic achievements or interest in a particular subject or occupation. Scholarships can be full, paying all of a student’s expenses, or partial, paying for only some.

Loans are given to students with the expectation that they will be paid back, although many student loans offer a “grace period” after graduation during which no payments are necessary, giving borrowers time to establish income before the first payment is due.

Grants are essentially gifts, and are not required to be paid back. Grants are typically smaller than loans or scholarships but a student may obtain many different grants, and many students get through school entirely on grant money.

Work study is another form of student aid. In work study, a student works at a job while they are in school. Instead of a paycheck, their tuition, and sometimes living expenses, are paid.

Although many students and their families believe that a student must be accepted by a particular school before they fill out their FAFSA, this is a misconception. Experts advise that students in their senior year of high school fill out their FAFSA at the same time they apply to colleges. There are several reasons to fill out a FAFSA early.

Supply and Demand – Thousands of students each year apply for federal financial aid. There is only a certain amount of money to go around, and it is given, for the most part, on a first-come, first-serve basis. A student who fills out their FAFSA late, regardless of their academic standing or financial status, may miss out on available grants or loans.

Transferability – In most cases, the FAFSA paperwork is fully transferable between schools. This means that once you’ve filled out your FAFSA, you’re done – there’s no need to fill out a new one for each school. Senior year is a busy time for students and their families, so it makes sense to get this important task out of the way as early as possible.

Speed – Some school have additional paperwork which they must file along with your FAFSA, such as a home equity estimate. Having your FAFSA prepared ahead of time gives you the best chance of receiving financial aid because it gives each school a chance to fill out all their necessary paperwork as soon as possible.

If you can’t afford to pay for your SAT tests or college applications, there is financial aid in the form of waivers to assist you.

There are four separate waivers available for the college entrance exams. A school counselor or another authorized agency must grant waivers. If you are home-schooled, you must contact your local high school or an authorized agency to obtain a waiver. Two waivers are available for the SAT, and two are available for SAT subject tests.

In order to qualify for these waivers, you must present proof that you and your household is unable to cover the SAT costs. This is typically done by filling out a household income form.

Colleges charge an application fee, which can become a financial hardship if a student is low-income or applying to many different schools. However, there is financial aid available for students who qualify. These waivers can be obtained separately, however, they are often obtained on conjunction with an SAT waiver. Typically, an SAT waiver will qualify a student for up to four college application fee waivers.

Students can also contact the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). This agency grants application fee waivers on the basis of income. Guidelines for determining eligibility are based on the same criteria as the reduced-price or free lunch programs which high schools use for low-income students.