im ready to start college but, whats the first thing i should do?

Question

im 18 and i just gradutated High School
i wasnt sure what college i wanted in H.S but im ready to start looking now. right now im working to save up money for whatever i may need for school.
Whats the first thing i should do, when looking up schools? and what do i need to know about financial aid?

thanks in advance have a good day.

Answer 1

I'm glad to hear you are interested in going to college. You have a lot of decisions ahead of you and many things to think about...but if you take it one step at a time, it shouldn't be too overwhelming. (For the sake of this answer, I'm assuming that you have relatively decent grades and have taken the SAT and/or ACT. If not, all of the below still applies, you just need to take the SAT and/or ACT and then probably start by looking at community colleges and then transfer to a 4-year school.)

First, think about what kind of college you want to attend:
-big university or smaller private college or community college
-in a city or a town
-one that has only dorm housing or one that offers off-campus housing after your first year
and so on

Then, start looking through college guides for colleges that fit most of the things you are looking for. You can find those guides at your local library. There also a great site that can help you come up with a list of college based on what you are looking for: http://www.petersons.com. Click on the college tab and then on "high school students." You might also consider going to the guidance department of the high school you just graduated from. They are no longer obligated to help you, but they would likely be willing to at least point you in the right direction and you may even find them willing to read over your applications before you send them in.

After you have a list of colleges that you think you might like to attend, start learning as much as you can about them. Visit them if possible and while you are visiting take a tour, stay overnight with a current student, and have an interview. If visiting isn't possible, then call and request that they send you information and ask if they have alumnae in your area who you could talk to or who can interview you.

Narrow down your list to three or four schools you really like and then also one safe school (a school you think will be easy to get into) and one school that might be a little hard to get into. Then, fill out the applications and write the essays. Generally one essay will suffice for most of your applications, but sometimes a school will want you to write additional short essays or answer a special essay question. Don't underestimate the importance of essays, they can make or break your application. Interviews are also very important because they give the school additional information about you that might not be obvious on paper. You will also need a copy of your high school transcript (which is basically a record of classes you took and grades you earned) and probably written recommendations from at least one former teacher. I would request these as soon as you can just so that you have them and so that teachers won't have forgotten what they'd like to say about you from the last few years. (Obviously you want to pick teachers who will have something positive to say about you.) Each application will probably have a fee of $25-$75 dollars. If you feel you cannot pay that amount for one or more of the schools, call them and ask if they can waive the fee. Many of them will be willing to do this, especially if you can explain any special circumstances (like if you are paying for college yourself, your family doesn't make a lot of money, etc).

Most applications are due between January 1 and 15. Check the web site of each school for the exact date. January may seem far away, but you should probably get started on everything as soon as possible as some of these things take a while. Once you've turned in your application, then you just wait to hear from the schools.

As far as financial aid goes, you need to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which will require getting a bunch of information from your parents. If they are going to be involved with your college search and with paying for college, then it might be a good idea for them to fill out the FAFSA themselves. You can go to this site and fill out the form online or find out how to get a paper form (your high school should have some forms too): www.fafsa.ed.gov. I believe that the deadline for the application is usually sometime in early February, but check with the web site or with the schools you are interested in to be sure. There are also many scholarships that you can apply for. Again, ask your former high school's guidance office if you can still apply for the local scholarships offered through the high school. There are probably other regional, state, and federal scholarships that are available. Check with your local library to see if they can help you find out about those. When you are choosing colleges, money is almost always an issue, but don't assume that you'll never be able to afford a particular school. If you really want to go somewhere that seems too expensive, apply anyway. Some of the most expensive schools give out a great deal of money to students each year because they want to have a diverse student population. If you are accepted to a college/university you will then get a letter telling you how much money they are giving you and how much you actually have to pay.

I hope (if you managed to get through this long answer!) that you find this helpful. Best of luck and remember to do a little studying between parties when you get there!

Answer 2

ought to go over to your local Community College and talk to the counselors there. They can tell you all you need to know. Community colleges area great way to do your first 2 years. They cost ALOT less, and if you plan right, you can transfer your credits to a 4 yr college later.

You might be able to get in to the fall semester still if you do it quick

Good choice your making and good luck

Answer 3

Go to the library or the bookstore and get a copy of Kaplan's guide to colleges. There are way too many to choose from.

Answer 4

You should have started looking two years ago...

you should fill out the Fafsa forms.. for federal student loans.. or grants.. depending upon your family income (including your parents)...

If I were you, I'd look at your local community colleges.

Answer 5

Practice binge drinking