College Readiness

What factors should you consider when choosing the right college?

• Number of students, availability of sports facilities, and proximity to shopping centers.

• Weather, distance from home, and extracurricular activities.

• Location, cost, academic programs, campus culture, size, and reputation.

• Tuition fees, availability of scholarships, and student-to-faculty ratio.

What are some important steps to take when preparing for college applications?

• Choosing a college randomly without researching

• Submitting incomplete applications

• Ignoring standardized tests and not preparing for them

• Researching and selecting colleges, gathering necessary documents and information, completing applications accurately and on time, writing a compelling personal statement, obtaining letters of recommendation, and preparing for standardized tests.

What is the FAFSA and why is it important for financial planning for college?

• The FAFSA is a form that students must fill out to apply for financial aid for college.

• The FAFSA is a loan program for college students.

• The FAFSA is a scholarship program for college students.

• The FAFSA is a tax form that students must fill out for college.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when choosing a college?

• Only considering the college's ranking

• Choosing a college based on its sports teams

• Not considering the cost, not researching the programs and majors offered, not visiting the campus, not considering the location and size of the college, and not looking into the reputation and accreditation of the college.

• Ignoring the college's graduation rate

What documents are typically required for college applications?

• diploma, resume, cover letter, portfolio, birth certificate

• high school transcripts, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, personal statement or essay, application fee

• bank statements, utility bills, tax returns, rental agreement, credit card statements

• birth certificate, vaccination records, passport, driver's license, social security card

What are some strategies for finding scholarships and financial aid for college?

• Research online scholarship databases, check with your school's financial aid office, contact local organizations and businesses, apply for federal financial aid, and explore scholarships specific to your field of study or demographic.

• Sell all your belongings to fund your education

• Ask friends and family for money

• Take out multiple credit cards to pay for college

What is the difference between a grant and a loan for college financial aid?

• A grant is a type of scholarship, while a loan is a type of financial aid.

• A grant is provided by the government, while a loan is provided by private lenders.

• A grant is free money, while a loan needs to be repaid.

• A grant is given based on financial need, while a loan is given based on academic merit.

What are some ways to save money on college expenses?

• Applying for scholarships, attending community college before transferring to a four-year university, living off-campus or with roommates, buying used textbooks or renting them, and taking advantage of student discounts.

• Applying for loans, working part-time while in college, buying brand new textbooks, living on-campus, not taking advantage of student discounts

What is the CSS Profile and how does it differ from the FAFSA?

• The CSS Profile is an optional application used by certain colleges and universities to determine a student's eligibility for scholarships. It is similar to the FAFSA in terms of the information required, but it focuses more on academic achievements and extracurricular activities.

• The CSS Profile is an application used by certain colleges and universities to determine a student's eligibility for non-federal financial aid. It is more detailed and comprehensive than the FAFSA, as it takes into account additional factors such as home equity and business assets. Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile requires a fee to be paid for each college or university to which the student is applying.

• The CSS Profile is a free application used by certain colleges and universities to determine a student's eligibility for federal financial aid. It is less detailed and comprehensive than the FAFSA, as it only considers basic income and asset information.

• The CSS Profile is a federal financial aid application used by all colleges and universities. It is similar to the FAFSA in terms of the information required and the factors considered.

What are some important deadlines to keep in mind when applying for college?

• housing deadline

• registration deadline

• test score submission deadline

• application deadline, financial aid deadline, scholarship deadline