Blog Post #1

As college comes closer, I am constantly asking myself questions about it, such as:
1. Do my SAT and ACT  scores really matter in the process of getting into college?
    - It really just depends on the school you want to attend. Checking to see how selective the school you are interested in is the first step. Some schools that accept around 10-20 percent of applicants are more likely to look at everything closely. The average college accepts 63.8 percent of their applicants. Open acceptance schools will accept almost everyone. Many open acceptance schools are community colleges but some are "four-year" schools. Colleges and universities look more for well-rounded students. Those who are in extracurricular activities. Many colleges tend to look at your grades and course load more than they look at your test scores. This is because they realize that some students are really smart but are just bad test takers. As long as you aren’t applying to a super selective school, you should be more worried about things that show how much effort you put into your work, such as grades and the difficulty of your classes.

2. How do I find scholarships?

    - If you’ve already selected the college you’ll be attending, their financial aid office is an excellent place to start researching scholarship awards that may be available. Most colleges have specific funds that are bench marked for students in various programs, of certain ethnicity, or other criteria. If you’re not sure where you’ll be going yet and are still in high school, check in with your guidance counselor. One good place to start is USA Today’s list of the top sites to search for scholarship awards, accessible online. Your community may have scholarship funds earmarked for exceptional students from local schools. Look into any possibilities offered by community groups, the PTA, and religious organizations. In addition, parents should find out whether their employer offers scholarship opportunities and whether their child qualifies. If you’ve already chosen a major, look into opportunities offered by professional organizations in that field. If you’ve already chosen a major, look into opportunities offered by professional organizations in that field.