I'm in high school and starting to think about college. What are some of the best resources I should be using to prepare? Anything that can help with applications, choosing schools, or understanding the process better?
There are many resources available to high school students that can aid in the college admissions process. Here are some I would highly recommend:
1. Naviance - This is a comprehensive college and career readiness software that many high schools have access to. It helps students discover their strengths and interests and helps match them with potential college or career paths.
2. College Board - Beyond being the organization that administers the SAT, College Board also provides tools to explore colleges, find scholarships, and understand the application timeline.
3. Khan Academy - Khan Academy has a partnership with College Board and offers free, personalized SAT practice based on your results from the PSAT/NMSQT. This can be a very useful platform for improving your SAT scores.
4. College websites - The websites of the colleges you're interested in can give you specific admission requirements, deadlines, and financial aid information. Always stay updated with the information provided by the college itself.
5. FAFSA - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is essential for applying for financial aid. Filling out the FAFSA will determine your eligibility for federal student aid like grants, work-study, and loans.
6. Net Price Calculator - Most, if not all, colleges offer a net price calculator on their website. This tool can give you an estimate of what you might expect to pay after grants and scholarships are deducted from the total cost of attendance.
7. Appily - This is a comprehensive scholarship platform where you can browse millions of scholarships and get personalized scholarship matches.
8. CollegeVine - This is an online guidance platform that can assist with creating a balanced school list, provide essay review services, and estimate your chances at specific schools.
These can prove to be very useful platforms to navigate the college admissions process effectively. It's essential to check these resources regularly as application deadlines and requirements may sometimes change. Always double-check the information from these resources with the information provided by your high school counselor or the college itself.
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