by Melissa Brock | Jan 20, 2020 | Ask the admission office |
You can still use a step-by-step guide on how to choose a college — who doesn’t love a guide with handy tips? Here’s what to do in seven steps.
What’s the best way to choose a college?
The college search invites hundreds of questions, doesn’t it? You can’t figure out how to get your kid to make a decision.
And your student may be thinking, “How can I get Mom and Dad to relax about this?”
It’s a process, isn’t it? Trust the process. Unless it’s April and your kiddo still hasn’t taken the ACT, you’ll be just fine.
The all-important question about how to choose a college starts with one simple step: Make a list.
Step 1: Develop your short list.
The short list! Or maybe it’s a long list. Help your child develop a list of schools that he thinks might meet his requirements. This list may be derived from hours of research. You might also come up with the list based on what you think you know about a college. Kids create their short list based on all kinds of reasons, from a great ski and snowboard club to the fact that his best friend goes there.
Step 2: Rank your priorities.
It’s easy for your kiddo to throw up his or her hands and say you have no idea what you’re looking for. But deep down, you really do know one or two things you want in your ideal school. (Parents, your kids really do — even if he or she says, “I don’t know” a dozen times a month.) Maybe you only know for sure that you want a stellar cafeteria — that’s a great start! Here are a few factors you might want to use to position your short list:
- Size: Have you always wanted to go to a large state university or do you prefer the smaller feel of a private liberal arts college or community college?
- Distance from home: Do you prefer to go to school in your hometown or on the opposite coast?
- Cost: Of course this is a factor! What scholarships and need-based financial aid can you get from the schools on your short list? Note: It’s often better to visit a school to get an idea of how much it’ll cost you. You can’t always tell how much a school will cost from a quick internet search!
- Majors: Can you find the majors you want? It’s okay if you don’t know for sure what you want to major in. At the very least, are there some that you might consider?
- Athletic opportunities: Are you an athlete who wants to continue your athletic career in college? If so, the right coach, team, athletic trainers and other factors will be important.
Step 3: Visit schools based on your rankings.
Scheduling a college visit and visiting schools is next on the agenda. And this part can be so much fun!
Call Admission Offices
You can sign up for a college admission visit by calling the admission office. Most colleges have a campus visit coordinator who will answer the phone and schedule your visit.
You can also visit the college’s website to set up your visit. Just know that if you set it up online, you may not be able to get really specific requests. Let’s say you want to meet with an on-campus dietician. It may not be an option on the online visit form. However, the campus visit coordinator may be more than happy to make that meeting happen.
Visit Campuses
This is your opportunity to ask every question that comes to mind. Ask any question you can think of — don’t be shy. Remember, students, admission counselors, financial aid officers, professors and others really want you to ask questions. They really do!
Build Those Relationships!
Get to know your admission counselor. Building a relationship with the admission counselor at each school could result in a lot of advantages for you. What if an admission counselor knows you’re going through some financial struggles? Or knows you have a disability? He or she may be more apt to point out some scholarship avenues.
Building relationships in this day and age gives some high schoolers the heebie-jeebies. Shelve the shyness and remember that admission counselors are usually super-cool people.
Step 4: Complete applications and count acceptance letters.
Note: You can complete applications before you visit campus, but you can also wait and do your applications after your visit.
- Know your application deadlines. Some schools require rolling admission but you may also have schools that ask you to apply early decision, early action or more. Ask about admission deadlines during your college visits.
- Read the directions on each application. Then follow them.
- Include all information requested information. And be honest here. If you don’t have a 4.0 grade point average, don’t put it on the application. The school will find out eventually even if it asks for self-reported information.
- Spend a lot of time on your college essay. This is something you’re going to want to get help on. Ask your English teacher, your next-door neighbor who happens to be an accomplished freelance writer, a college and career coach — you know who to ask. Don’t go it alone. And craft it oh, so carefully.
- Be choosy about who writes your recommendations. Don’t ask your football coach to write your letters of recommendation. No school will take you seriously — even if your football coach is a literary genius. Choose a teacher or other influential individual who knows your strengths and can write a stellar letter.
- Request official copies of your high school transcripts. Ask your school counselor to send in your official transcripts. Check in a week later just to be sure it’s out the door.
- Check with your admission counselor to be sure he or she has received everything. Your admission counselor at each school should be able to confirm whether those transcripts and letters of recommendation have arrived. (Have we raved about those rock star admission counselors enough yet?)
- Finally, the fun (and sometimes not so fun) part of the application process happens. You get acceptance letters (hurray!) and might even hear back about admission denials. Here’s the thing about rejection letters: It doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to attend that particular school in your life. You may just need to attend a different school for a semester or a year and apply as a transfer. It might not mean good-bye forever. You could also ask your admission counselor if you can craft an appeal.
Step 5: File the FAFSA.
What is the FAFSA? Get started by creating an FSA ID — one for a parent and one for a student. It’s fairly easy to fly solo from there.
Still in the dark? You can get help on the FAFSA application at college financial aid offices. (While you’re at it, you can ask, “What is financial aid?” to people trained to guide you.)
Granted, not every financial aid officer is free to help you right now, so ask your child’s school counselor about other resources available to help with the FAFSA if you don’t feel comfortable filling it out on your own.
Step 6: Compare financial aid awards.
After you file the FAFSA, you’ll get your financial aid awards. Once the financial aid awards come rolling in, it’s time to compare the awards you’ve received from all schools. Note: They’ll all come in at different times. Here are a few things to ask yourself about each award.
What is the Cost of Attendance?
Most financial aid awards will include the cost of attendance for one year on the financial aid award. Most schools publish it directly on the financial aid award letter. However, some don’t. You might need to look back at your visit materials or look online to find that published cost.
How Much am I Getting in Grants and Scholarships vs. Loans?
Figure out how much of what a school gives you is free money. Scholarships and loans = free money that you don’t need to pay back. You’ll have to pay loans back — with interest. Some schools may not distinguish the types of aid and you’ll have to figure it out.
What’s the Net Cost?
The net cost is different than the cost of attendance. The net cost tells you how much it will actually cost you to attend a particular institution. It’s the total cost minus any gift aid. You may need to calculate the net cost on your own. It might not be broken down for you on your award letter.
Did I Get Work-Study?
Work-study is a federal program that gives your school money so you can work while you’re on campus. Schools all receive different amounts and may award work-study amounts differently.
Don’t be surprised if you get $1,000 in work-study at one school and $2,000 at another.
Didn’t get work-study at a particular school? Ask the school’s financial aid office if it can put it on. It just might happen.
How Much is Left?
There may be a gap in the total cost minus what you’ve received in financial aid — and that’s common. It also might not be printed right on the financial aid award. You may have to calculate it.
Do you have savings to cover the remaining gap? Will you need to take out loans? This is the part where you figure out how much you and your student can contribute.
Step 6: Do the heart/gut test.
You may know exactly which school you’re planning to attend after all your financial aid awards. Sometimes, it’s less clear.
It’s time to apply the heart and gut test. This is a test where you figure out which school draws you in. You might not be able to put your finger on why — it just does.
Trust that inner voice. So many students have said, “I chose College X because it just felt right.” It happens more than you think. What feels right at gut-level for you? If you still can’t decide, do another visit. Maybe it’ll take an overnighter to help you make your decision.
Step 7: Make your decision.
It’s officially time! Hurray! Congratulations — you’ve decided which school you’re going to attend. The next step is to tell the college you’d like to attend the great news.
And please, oh, please, tell the other colleges that you applied to that you’re not going to those schools. Don’t assume they’ll stop contacting you. An admission counselor must keep bugging you until he or she knows you’re no longer interested.
Send your admission counselors at each school an email. Don’t be surprised if they ask which school you’re attending and why. They often need to know for their own research purposes — they’re not just being nosy.
Finally, the last step is to send scholarship thank yous. Sincerely thank anyone who has given you a scholarship. Here’s more about how to write a scholarship thank you letter if you’ve got writer’s block.
Choose the Best Fit College
Listen to that inner voice — it knows a lot. And if you’re a student, listen to your parents! They’ve got some life experience that can help drive your decision, even if they didn’t go to college themselves.
Take a deep breath, tackle each step one-by-one, and pretty soon, it’ll be May and you’ll be graduating from high school.
Oh, and enjoy the ride. You’re about to go on the best adventure.
by Melissa Brock | Jan 5, 2020 | Ask the admission office |
You’re ready to take the ACT — that all-important test can determine your future college options. So exciting! A little knowledge and prep work can go a long way toward securing your future dreams. You might be curious about a couple of the most basic questions such as what is a good ACT score? And how long is the ACT?
Put simply, the ACT is two hours and 55 minutes — if you don’t take the writing test. But there are a few more details you may want to know ahead of time about the length of each test. (Hint: You’ll want to know this ahead of time. Each test is a different amount of time.) Two other factors could change your situation:
- You might decide to take the writing test.
- You might opt to take an extended time test due to a learning disability or other qualification.
Let’s break it all down. You’re racing the clock (in a controlled manner, of course!) when you take the ACT. Here’s what you need to know.
What Time Does the ACT Test Start and When Does it End?
First, check your email instructions for your assigned reporting time. Your assigned test center reporting time is usually going to be 8 a.m.
Your testing center might not be the familiar halls of your high school or your comfy English classroom. It might be at a nearby college or even another high school. Consider doing a practice drive to your testing center a few days early if you’re not quite sure where it is.
On the day of the test, you don’t wanna wake up at 7:54 a.m., blast through the kitchen (without breakfast) and blow six stop signs on your way to the testing center. Instead:
- Set your alarm (or three alarms, if you have to), eat a good breakfast and arrive by 8 a.m.
- Pat yourself on the back if you arrive earlier than 7:45 a.m., but know that if you do arrive early, you might have to wait outside until testing staff members get your room ready.
- Follow directions for checking in — a test administrator will tell you what to do once you arrive. You’ll officially start testing after 8 a.m. as soon as all examinees are checked in and seated.
You should be done with the standard-time ACT test (without writing) at about 12:35 p.m. — Just in time for lunch!
How Long is the ACT with Writing?
You can choose to take the ACT writing test. Some colleges and universities want to see how you write, but it’s not required for every college. Not sure whether you need to take the writing test? Ask your admission counselor at each college about that school’s admission requirements.
The ACT writing test tacks on a 40-minute essay test to the other four tests. The writing test is fairly simple to understand. You’ll get a prompt that describes an issue and three different perspectives on that issue. You must answer the prompt in pencil on the lined pages of an answer folder provided to you.
You’ll be dismissed about 1:35 p.m. if you take the ACT writing test.
How Long is the ACT with Extended Time?
The ACT offers National Extended Time, also called 50 percent extended time. In other words, you’ll get extended time on each section of the ACT and you’ll get a break after each section. You’ll need to be approved ahead of time for extended testing. Learn more about ACT accommodations.
Overall, the extended time ACT gives you:
- 70 minutes to complete Test 1 — English
- 90 minutes to complete Test 2 — Mathematics
- 55 minutes to complete Test 3 — Reading
- 55 minutes to complete Test 4 — Science
- 60 minutes to respond to the Writing test prompt (if you choose to take the writing test)
It may not take you every spare minute of extended time to finish each test. For example, let’s say there’s a group of extended time test takers who finish with the English test early. All examinees can move on to the next test (Mathematics) once everyone’s finished. However, all examinees in the room must work on the same test at the same time.
Parts of the ACT
There are four distinct subject tests on the ACT: English, mathematics, reading and science. Here’s an overview of each type of test you’ll take during the ACT test and how long each section lasts.
English
The English test on the ACT is 45 minutes long and contains 75 questions.
You’ll be given writing passages on this test that will ask you to evaluate specific writing elements. For example, you might need to determine a passage’s tone or might simply need to select the correct English-appropriate answer. Take a look at specific underlined portions of the test and consider all answer choices before you choose the one that best responds to the question.
There’s a great English test prep example on ACT’s website. Check it out!
Mathematics
The Mathematics test on the ACT is 60 minutes long and contains 60 questions.
You’ll find the following types of math problems on the mathematics test:
- Pre-algebra
- Elementary algebra
- Intermediate algebra
- Coordinate geometry
- Plane geometry
- Trigonometry
All problems vary from straightforward “solve-for-x equations” to graphs and charts.
Planning to use a calculator? Be sure you check out the latest calculator policy so you know you’re using the right type of calculator. Make sure it works and that you know how to use it! (It’d be a shame if you borrowed someone’s ultra-powerful calculator on test day and then couldn’t figure out how to turn it on.)
You don’t technically need a calculator to solve any equations on the mathematics test. All problems can be solved without a calculator, but having one sure is handy.
Check out the helpful mathematics test prep example on ACT’s website.
Reading
The Reading test on the ACT is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions.
As you might imagine, this test is stuffed with various reading passages about and tests your comprehension. Topic clusters include fiction, social science, natural science and the humanities. You’ll answer questions about how well you understand a particular passage. It’s important to:
- Read each passage carefully.
- Consider all of the answer choices (read those carefully, too!) Look back and forth from the passage to the questions as you answer them.
Here’s a great example of what you might find on the reading portion of the ACT.
Science
The Science test on the ACT is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions.
Luckily, you don’t need to be a budding biologist to do well on the science portion of the ACT. You just need to be able to read charts and graphs and interpret the scientific information involved. Be sure you read each question carefully so you understand the scientific information included in each passage. scientific information in the passage when answering the question. There could be conflicting viewpoints in each passage, according to ACT, so be careful!
Here’s what to expect on the ACT Science test.
When to Take the ACT
The ACT (and SAT, for that matter) can be taken any time during high school. Most school counselors recommend taking at least one test by June of junior year, and, for good measure, another test soon after. Some states allow you to take the test for free. Check with your school counselor to find out whether your state allows you to take the ACT for free.
Think you might want to take the ACT as a sophomore? Or maybe you’re not ready as a junior and think it’s better to wait till senior year. Take into account your desired level of preparation, readiness for the test and college deadlines and goals.
Get Ready for the ACT Now!
Now that you know how much time you’ll have for each individual portion of the test, it’s time to practice. Get a feel for how much time you have on each question by going through timed tests.
It really is a “timing” thing. Your ability to move swiftly and accurately through the test and check it consistently against the rest of the time you have allotted is the key — whether you’re on standard or extended time.
by Melissa Brock | Dec 20, 2019 | College Money Tips |
How to save money in college?! The title of this post might seem laughable to you. Especially since you’re probably praying that your holey underwear will last till Christmas. (Thank goodness for your mama’s yearly Hanes stocking stuffer.)
But you can save money in college, and there are smart ways to do it. And those savings can even benefit you beyond your college years. Let’s explore how you can save money in college.
Step 1: Understand your goals.
First of all, what are you saving for? Maybe you’d like to propose to your girlfriend at the end of senior year or purchase a car once you graduate. Know what you’re saving for and why.
Zoom in on your immediate short-term goals. These might be anything you want to accomplish in the next week or over the next three months (or more), like:
- Pay your brother back the $50 you owe him.
- Save for textbooks for next semester.
- Have $1,000 in the bank for the next time your car’s alternator decides to crap out.
You may also want to identify some long-term savings goals, which could be six months away or up to retirement. These could be:
- Pay off student loans and credit card debt.
- Save for a down payment for a small condo after graduation if you’re really opposed to renting.
- Plan a special vacation after you graduate.
Be sure to write it down! There’s huge power in writing down your goals. Do a thorough exercise in jotting down your goals and be very specific. It can look something like this:
- Goal: Save $5,000 for a spring break trip by March 2020.
- Goal: Pay off $30,000 in student loans by December 2025.
Finally, post those goals somewhere where you’ll see them every single day — on your bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator — wherever you can see it.
Step 2: Seek scholarships and grants.
Scholarships and grants are an excellent way to save money because you don’t have to pay them back. This is less money you’ll have to funnel toward college tuition. That might equal fewer loans to repay later, too.
Scholarships and grants are more accessible than you think. Visit your school’s financial aid office and talk to a financial aid professional in person. They are good resources to help you investigate available and upcoming opportunities. You’ll also learn more about your school’s application requirements and deadlines.
Step 3: Set a budget.
Budgeting can be a groan-worthy endeavor… spreadsheets and subtraction… blech! But mapping out your goals will help you set a budget so you can get to the gold. In fact, track your spending to see where you’re spending your money.
Don’t alter your spending habits for one week. If you normally buy a latte and croissant from the coffee shop every morning, do it. Then decide which part of your budget you really can give up. Is that delicious breakfast costing you too much money? You could be eating yogurt and brewing your own coffee for $1 in your dorm room.
Set your budget so you know where you should be spending. And you can schedule that occasional professional brew as a reward for saving.
Can’t stand putting pen to paper? If that’s not your thing, it’s time to join the 21st century and use a budgeting tool. You can plan a budget and track your spending from the comfort of your smartphone. You can even increase your accountability by budgeting with a friend.
Step 4: Make money — and save it
You have so many resources at your fingertips. There are a gazillion ways to make money in college and save it.
Internet money-making opportunities are plentiful. Do you have a knack for marketing? Social media managing? Photography? Blogging? Some other undiscovered skill you can hone? Use the internet to your advantage.
You might even want to save more than you spend so that with the excess money you’ve banked, you can pay your tuition down. Why not start early? Let’s say you land an incredible sales job between classes and make extra in commissions. Why not apply that toward your tuition?
Invest while in college
So, that money you save has to go somewhere. Why not invest it? Stuffing your money under your mattress won’t benefit you. Your money can (and should) be making money. A penny saved truly can be two pennies earned.
There are lots of different ways you can invest when you have some serious savings built up — or even if your savings only fills a backpack pocket.
Sometimes it’s a good idea to look for a reputable financial advisor or broker near campus who can help with your investment plans. They can introduce you to options, explain terms and guide you through selecting the best path for your savings goals. If you are more familiar with investing, you can find online brokers that offer services as well. Do your research carefully and ask financial advisors how much they charge.
Investment Options
Have you determined how much you have left over at the end of the month? Great! Put that money to work for you into an investment account. The amount you can invest per month might vary but at least you’ll have an idea of a general amount you’re able to contribute.
Do you have a short-term investing goal? You could always sling your money into a savings account. However, you might not be too into a savings account’s lackluster return. In that case, here are a few more options for short-term savings vehicles.
Short-Term Bond Funds
Short-term bond funds are safer investments because they usually mature in one to three years. They’re less volatile and invest in high-quality bond holdings across various issuers and industries. They’re a great option if you don’t want to risk your money.
Money Market Accounts
A money market account is like the hybrid cousin of a checking and savings account. You can make debit purchases and write checks. Best of all, you’ll earn a higher interest rate than you would through a checking or savings account.
Certificates of deposit (CDs)
CDs are fixed income investments that pay a set interest rate over a specific (fixed) time period. For example, you may be able to put money into a CD and take it out after three months and earn 1.75 percent interest on it. Typically, the longer you keep your CD in the bank or with your broker, the higher your interest rate will be.
Thinking way, way ahead? In that case, here are some great opportunities.
Roth or Traditional IRAs
Roth and Traditional IRAs are both good choices if you want to earmark money for retirement — even if it’s 40 or more years away! A Roth IRA offers excellent tax-free advantages, which means you don’t have to pay taxes on the money during retirement. For 2020, your total contribution to all traditional and Roth IRAs cannot be more than $6,000.
Index Funds
ndex funds can offer more risk, which is what you want when you have a longer time horizon. Index funds offer you a hands-off, diversified, low-cost method of long-term investing.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
An ETF is a basket of securities you buy or sell through a brokerage firm on a stock exchange. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track an index and usually offer low expense ratios. This means you’ll get plenty of diversification. In other words, your money will be spread out instead of exposed to risk like you would be when your money is invested in a single stock. ETFs trade like a stock and cover all asset classes, ranging from traditional investments to alternative assets like commodities or currencies.
Mutual Funds
A mutual fund is a professionally managed investment fund that pools money from many investors to purchase securities. Mutual funds also offer diversification. A disadvantage of mutual funds is that they’re typically more expensive to invest in because they’re professionally managed. You can end up paying a fund manager a lot of money to manage those mutual funds over a number of years!
Stocks
Stocks are securities that represent an ownership share in a company. They’re much riskier than funds that are bundled together.
Parent tip: Consider offering match your student’s money in an investment account if you want to motivate your college-aged kiddo!
Save Money in College Like a Pro
Being successful in college is about more than getting the grades you need for graduate school. We’ve given you some ways for how to save money in college. Obviously, you need a way to start your savings. Whether you get a part-time job, an internship, search for a work-study job, dive into a creative side gig or sell some of your stuff online, there are lots of ways to make it happen.
Learn to be smart with your choices and multiply your resources. You can be financially savvy starting now. With a little know-how and determination — and planning ahead! — you can make saving money in college happen. You can even set your sights on post-college financial success. Your 60-year-old self will thank you!
by Melissa Brock | Nov 9, 2019 | Ask the admission office |
What is a good ACT score? That’s a great question! You might’ve asked your admission counselor, your school counselor, your best friend. Moms and dads, it’s a question that you might ask at every single college fair you attend with your son or daughter.
As you might imagine, whether you’ve achieved a “good” score is a bit subjective. Different people have different expectations for their score — and various colleges have specific admission guidelines, too. For example, a less selective college might prefer a 20 ACT, while a more selective institution might only admit students who have a 26.
Your best bet is to ask each school you’re applying to what ACT score to aim for. How important ACT scores are in the college application process varies from school to school — some schools might not require the ACT (or SAT, ACT’s counterpart) at all.
What is the ACT?
The ACT is a college entrance exam that’s used by colleges and universities to make decisions about whether to admit students to their respective institutions. It’s a four-section test with an optional writing portion that measures your readiness for college.
The components include four tests: English, math, reading, science reasoning and an optional writing section. The ACT also includes high school grade and course information, a student profile section and a career interest inventory.
The higher your ACT score, the more competitive schools you can place on your radar. A higher ACT will also affect your ability to get merit-based scholarships.
What is an Average ACT Score?
You might wonder how your score fit in with the thousands of other students who have taken the ACT. Here’s a crash course on how ACT scores work, according to ACT.org.
- First, the ACT scans and counts the number of questions that you answer correctly. There is no penalty for choosing incorrect answers. (In other words, if you have to guess on the ACT, that’s okay.)
- The ACT then transitions your raw scores (the number of correct answers on each test) to scores that are called scale scores.
- These scores are all added together, then divided by four to get your composite score.
- You’ll get an official score report which will show your composite score, which can range from 1 – 36. You’ll also see the results of each of the four test scores, and each test score can also range from 1 – 36.
Let’s say you take the test and get the following scores:
English: 26
Mathematics: 30
Reading: 22
Science Reasoning: 27
Average composite score: 26
So, 26+30+22+27 = 105, and 105/4 = 26.25, which gives you an ACT score of 26.
Your composite equates to a percentile that shows how you did in comparison to all other test takers. Your ACT score report will compare your scores to the approximate percentages of recent high school graduates in the U.S. and your state, too. A higher percentile means you scored higher than that percent of students. (In other words, a rank of 45 for your composite score means that 45 percent of students earned that composite or lower.)
Of the over 1.9 million students tested on the ACT in 2018, the average composite ACT score was 20.8. To break it down a little more, here are the averages for the four tests in 2018:
English: 20.2
Mathematics: 20.5
Reading: 21.3
Science Reasoning: 20.7
Average composite score: 20.8
What is the Highest ACT Score?
The highest ACT score is a 36. Less than one percent of all students achieve that extraordinary score. A 20 is an average ACT score and nestles right in at the 50th percentile. On the other hand, a 24 ACT score means you’ve scored better than about 75 percent of students. An ACT score of 29 means you’ve scored better than 90 percent of students, and finally, a score of 31 means you’ve scored better than 95 percent of students.
If you score anything above a 35, pat yourself on the back. You’ve scored higher than 99 percent of all test takers. It doesn’t get better than that!
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- ACT score < 16: Bottom 25 percent
- 21 ACT: Middle/average score
- 24+ ACT: Top 25 percent
- 29+ ACT: Top 10 percent
- 31+ ACT: Top five percent
- ACT score of 35 or 36: Top one percent
How to Superscore the ACT
Some colleges and universities allow you to superscore the ACT, which means that you average your best subjects from all four testing areas. It’s different than a composite score because you take the best of what could be several tests and create a superscore.
It’s easy to do: You simply round up your score reports, find your highest score from the English, math, reading and science tests and add these scores together. Next, divide by four and round your score up to the nearest whole number.
For example, let’s say you took the test twice and got the following scores:
Test date 1:
English 20
Mathematics 20
Reading 25
Science reasoning 25
Test date 2:
English 25
Mathematics 19
Reading 20
Science reasoning 26
Average all the bold scores (25, 20, 25 and 26) and divide by four and that equals a superscore of 24.
You might be wondering whether the writing score counts toward a superscore — it doesn’t.
You will receive a total of five scores for the essay test: a single subject-level writing score reported on a range of 2-12 and four domain scores, which are also 2-12, according to ACT.org. These scores are based on an analytic scoring rubric. The subject-level score will be the rounded average of the four domain scores: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization and Language Use and Conventions.
Do all Colleges Superscore the ACT?
Many, but not all, colleges superscore, but the number has increased in recent years, according to ACT.org. Learn more about the admission requirements by contacting the various admission counselors at schools you’re looking at.
When the September 2020 ACT rolls around, you’ll be able to send your individual superscores to various colleges.
How to Improve Your ACT score
Let’s say you’re not happy with your ACT score. You can take the test again or superscore the test. In September 2020, you’ll have even more options. You’ll be able to do ACT section retesting and also report your superscores to individual colleges.
You can take the ACT as many times as you want. Some colleges also offer residual testing, which means they can give the ACT through the admission office at any time — but the score will only count for that particular school. Ask the admission offices of colleges if you can do a residual test, which will not occur on a national test date.
Choose the Right Fit
Think you’re ready for this all-important test? Or maybe you’ve already taken it, you even know what it stands for and you’re curious to know how you compare among national ACT test-takers.
Even if you do know what percentile you fall into and every detail of your ACT score, that doesn’t matter as much as knowing which college is the best fit for you.
ACT scores are just one indicator for a college of whether you’re an excellent candidate for admission. Other factors, such your grades, letters of recommendation, alumni interviews and more will also help a college — and you — determine the right fit. Luckily, there are so many college choices out there. The right combination of ACT score, filing the FAFSA and more will get you ever closer to making a college decision.
by Melissa Brock | Nov 3, 2019 | Ask the admission office |
What does ACT stand for? Here’s the answer for those trivia seekers! The ACT originally stood for American College Test, but now it’s just called by its three letters — A–C–T.
Kind of like deciding on a major, it’s a big deal. Here’s what your child needs to know to get ready for this all-important test.
What is the ACT?
The ACT is a multiple-choice entrance exam used by most colleges and universities — from liberal arts colleges to large state universities. This test is one component of your entire profile that admission committees use to make admission decisions.
The test, administered by ACT Inc., simply measures your college readiness. It also provides colleges with a yardstick to compare all students who apply to their school.
But don’t worry, your ACT isn’t the only factor. College admission committees review your high school GPA, the classes you take in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admission interviews and personal essays.
This can be a tad confusing: Various schools put a different weight on the ACT. Some schools might not consider the ACT for admission at all. Generally, the higher you score on the ACT, the more options you’ll have for attending and paying for college.
What is the History of the ACT?
Everet Franklin Lindquist, professor of education at the University of Iowa, launched the American College Testing Program in 1959. He designed the ACT to test students’ general educational development. In other words, Lindquist wanted to test practical knowledge — academic achievement over intelligence. The ACT’s rival, the SAT, tested mainly theory-based reasoning skills.
The first ACT was a four-part exam. It included 45-minute sections for English, mathematics, social studies and natural science. Lindquist’s test was scored using a 36-point system — and that scoring system is still used today.
Many of the 75,000 students who took the test in 1959 were Midwesterners. The SAT is still more popular on the coasts and the ACT is still taken more heavily in the middle of the country.
ACT Changes Over the Years
The ACT has changed a bit over the years:
- The ACT underwent a makeover in 1989. It swapped out the social studies and natural science sections and replaced them with reading and science reasoning.
- ACT added a writing section in 2005. This was a clear countermove in response to the SAT’s writing section.
ACT recently unrolled some new options — but they won’t be officially available until September 2020:
- Single section retesting: You will be able to retest just one, two or three section(s) without having to take the whole test again. For example, let’s say you take the full test on one of the national test dates. You’re not crazy about your math score, so you take only the math test at a later date and try to achieve a higher score the second time.
- You can report your superscore: Superscoring means that you average your four best individual subject scores from each individual ACT test. For example, let’s say you take the ACT once and get a 24 on the math test and a 32 on the English test. Let’s say you take it again. This time, you get a 25 on the math test and a 30 on the English test. You can send colleges two of your best scores from these two different test dates — the 25 on the math test and the 32 on the English test. You will also be able to submit these ACT superscores directly to colleges and universities. Just make sure the colleges you’re applying to accept superscores — not all of them do.
- You can opt for online testing: Bye-bye, traditional paper testing — if you choose. You can now take every ACT online during national test dates. Traditional paper testing is still available if you’re more comfortable with that method. The advantage to online testing? You’ll get your scores back much more quickly — in as little as two days.
What is on the ACT?
The ACT is divided into four specific testing areas, with an optional writing section. The tests are in this order: English, mathematics, reading and science.
English
The first test on the ACT is the English test. The English test is 45 minutes long and contains 75 questions. You get to edit the text — the ACT tests you on grammar, sentence structure and punctuation. In other words, you’ll need to insert where you think a passage needs a semicolon or a period, for example. It’ll also test your ability to critically understand how a passage flows and more.
Mathematics
Next, you’ll take the mathematics test. The mathematics test is 60 minutes long and contains 60 questions. It’s roughly divided into these types of math problems:
- Pre-algebra: About 20 percent
- Elementary algebra: About 20 percent
- Intermediate algebra: About 20 percent
- Coordinate geometry: About 15 percent
- Plane geometry: About 20 percent
- Trigonometry: About five percent
The ACT math section requires you to answer various word problems and others are straightforward math problems. Some have graphs or charts.
They range from easy to hard. The first 1-20 questions are easy, questions 21-40 are somewhat challenging and questions 41-60 are difficult. You might need to budget more time on the more challenging questions toward the end of the test.
Reading
Next, you’ll take the reading test — but not before you get a break! There’s a 10- to 15-minute break between the math and reading tests. The reading test is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions. Specifically, you’ll read and answer questions about themes, tone and purpose. Overall, you’ll answer questions about how well you understand a particular passage. Specific topics include:
- Prose fiction/literary narrative: This section involves fiction passages and literary memoirs. You’ll be asked to read and then answer these multiple-choice questions.
- Social science: You’ll also answer questions about passages in psychology, sociology and education.
- Humanities: You’ll be asked to read and answer questions in the humanities — including essays and memoirs, plus nonfiction pieces on philosophy, literature and the arts.
- Natural science: This section involves science topics like biology, chemistry, physics and medicine.
Note: You will not need to be a subject matter expert in any of these topics. You should be able to read (quickly, though!) and use your reading comprehension skills to answer any of the questions involved.
Science Reasoning
Science reasoning is the last required section. The science section is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions. The science section doesn’t actually test your specific science knowledge — it tests your ability to interpret scientific information using charts and graphs.
Writing
Finally, the ACT writing test is a 40-minute essay test that measures your writing skills. Many colleges and universities don’t require you to take the writing test — that’s good news for those of you who really don’t like to write! You can decide whether to sign up for the writing test after you ask the admission offices at the schools you’re applying to whether you should take the writing test.
Here’s how it works:
You’ll get a prompt that describes a complicated issue and which presents three different perspectives on that issue. You must write your answer in pencil on the lined pages of an answer folder. Students with a disability who cannot handwrite the essay will not have to write it by hand. (Check out information for students with disabilities on ACT’s website.)
When is the ACT Offered?
The ACT is always offered during the following months:
- February
- April
- June
- July (Note: The ACT is not offered in New York state in July.)
- September
- October
- December
Don’t forget to sign up for the ACT by the registration deadline. The registration deadline is usually during the month preceding the test date, but if you don’t manage to sign up on time, there’s always a late registration deadline.
Visit ACT for more information about test dates and learn how to register for a test.
Take the ACT
Knowing what’s on the ACT and what it stands for is great — but don’t forget to practice! Go through a few practice tests online or get a tutorial book from your local library.
Ask about the ACT when you’re on college campuses. You might already be asking, “What is the FAFSA?” and “What is rolling admission?” during your college visits. But don’t forget to ask each admission counselor when you should take the ACT.
Even more importantly, ask your admission counselor what ACT score each college requires. It’ll give you something to shoot for.
by Melissa Brock | Oct 26, 2019 | Build relationships |
Good for you for wanting to write a scholarship letter — or, if you’re a parent who wants your kiddo to write a letter — good job on asking him or her to write a scholarship thank you.
Scholarships can be a saving grace — in some cases, college, trade school grad school — might be impossible without one (or two or three).
Here’s how to pen the perfect message.
Why Write a Scholarship Thank You Letter?
Lots of companies, organizations and other entities give scholarships — and individuals do, too. You might not think that a faceless corporation would get a kick out of receiving a scholarship letter, but that’s just not true.
Let’s say you write to the board of directors and profusely thank them for your generosity, and you just might earn yourself more scholarships in the future. Maybe you find that a particular scholarship is renewable.
But it’s more than that. It’s more than just about what’s in it for you — it’s about building relationships with people and making a real human connection with someone or a group of people who has (excitedly!) proven their generosity.
When to write a scholarship thank you letter
You might think you only need to write a scholarship letter once you receive a scholarship. However, it’s a good idea to write a scholarship letter during any part of the scholarship process:
- Immediately after you interview for a scholarship
- After you do alumni interviews for admission to a particular college
- Once you audition for a scholarship (music, theatre, etc.)
- Once you’re evaluated in any way for a scholarship
In other words, anytime you actively do something to try to nab a scholarship, you need to thank someone for it.
Here’s a quick scenario. You interview for a business scholarship at a college with a professor that you know you’ll have in class someday. You send a thank you note and the professor sends an email back. The professor remembers you from the interview and gives you the scholarship because of your stellar interview — and who knows? Maybe because of your thank you note, too.
Furthermore, let’s say a college gives you a giant merit-based scholarship. Sure, it might seem like they give those to lots of students (liberal arts colleges often give out large merit-based scholarships to bring down their tuition costs) but consider this. Maybe you send a hand-written note to the admission counselor and lo and behold, another scholarship is available later — and since you’re such a kind, caring student, they recommend you for the scholarship first.
How Should My Scholarship Letter Sound?
Your letter should take on a formal tone. The type of letter you send will convey how formal it is — a typed letter is way more formal than a hand-written card or email. It’s a good idea to err on the side of formal when you’re writing a scholarship thank you letter.
You may want to consider a formal letter once you’ve interviewed for a scholarship or when you’ve received a scholarship. On the other hand, you might want to pen a handwritten thank you note to an admission counselor for your visit to campus (this is another great thank you opportunity!).
Steps to Write a Formal Scholarship Thank You Letter
Let’s walk through the steps so you’ll know exactly what you’ll need to do — but don’t copy the one we include below word-for-word. Add your own touch — and maybe even a little pizzazz.
Step 1: Check the name of the recipients, write the salutation and first paragraph.
Here’s what you’ll need to collect before you get started:
- The first and last name of the donor or organization that’s giving you a scholarship. Double-check — no, triple-check! — the spelling of any names. Quadruple check!
- The name of the scholarship. Again, make sure you’re spelling it right.
- The address, city, state and zip code of the scholarship donors.
Your salutation should start with “Dear” — no ifs, ands or buts. If you feel at all the desire to write “Hey” or “Whazzup” at the beginning of a scholarship letter, squish it immediately. You’re writing a formal thank you.
Your intro doesn’t have to be boring, though most letters you’ll see start with, “I’m writing to thank you for your generous scholarship.” Bland, huh? You can get a bit more creative than that, but remember — always start with the purpose of your letter.
Step 2: Write the second paragraph.
Get a little friendly here — if you didn’t in the first paragraph. First, talk about yourself a little more. Maybe you’re into martial arts or dance. Maybe you play the bari sax in your school band — scholarship donors are real people who want to know who you are. Explain why the donor’s investment means so much to you.
Can you think of other things to add? Of course you can. Make it memorable. If you did an interview with that person, add a personal touch, such as “I really enjoyed hearing you talk about your love of Shakespeare in my interview. We recently performed Hamlet at the community little theatre and I played Ophelia.”
Step 3: Write the conclusion.
Finally, you’ll want to end with a robust thank you and a promise to honor the donor’s or donors’ investments. This is the time to make your donor feel good and laud them with phrases like, “I wouldn’t be able to continue my education without you.”
Step 4: Add the closing and sign your name.
You’ll also need a complimentary close to sign off your letter. Use “Sincerely,” “Best wishes” or “All the best” for the closing. “Thanks a bunch,” probably doesn’t strike quite the right vibe.
Next, actually sign your letter — don’t just type your name. You’ll type your name under your signature.
Put it All Together
Now that you’ve digested all of that, let’s put all the parts together.
[Date] — be sure to write this out like this: October 25, 2019
[Mr. or Mrs. First and Last Name of Donor or Name of Organization ]
[Name of Scholarship]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip]
Dear [Donor Name or Organization Name],
First paragraph: Explain why you’re writing your letter.
Thanks so much for choosing me to be your [Name of scholarship] scholarship recipient. I was so excited when I got your letter in the mail!
Second paragraph: Talk a little bit about yourself and explain why the letter means so much to you.
I’m a ballet dancer and a travel enthusiast (my grandparents have taken me to 26 countries around the world). My love of travel has spurred me to learn two other languages — French and Spanish.
I’m planning to major in English and get either a business management or a communication studies minor. I really want to be a journalist someday — and my major goal is to write for The New York Times. I plan to write for my college newspaper, but I’m not quite sure which school I’m attending yet. I’ll be sure to make a decision soon, after I wrap up a couple more college visits.
Third paragraph: Wrap it up and thank the person or organization again and explain that you’re going to “take good care of” the donor’s investment.
This scholarship helps me achieve my dreams of becoming a journalist and I’m so thankful to you to help make that happen. I hope one day I’ll be able to pay it forward and help another student in need.
Sincerely,
[Sign your name here]
[Your name]
[City, State, Zip]
Wait — What About the Envelope?
Put your letter in a #10 business envelope with a Z-fold (YouTube it if you’re not sure what that means — it means that you’ll fold your letter once and then back again), and if you want a polished look, you can was design one using tools like Canva’s envelope maker.
Write your address in the upper left-hand corner. You might be wondering if it’s okay to handwrite this part. It sure is.
Put your recipient’s name, the name of the organization and address in the center of the envelope. Finally, put a stamp in the upper right-hand corner. Your letter shouldn’t be overly thick because it’ll just have one sheet of paper in it — so you should only need one Forever stamp.
Write the Best Possible Scholarship Letter
One question you might be wondering: How long does this thing have to be? Luckily, not long. A scholarship letter can be just three short paragraphs like the one above — but make an effort to be sincerely thankful and try your hardest to make a connection, just like you would if you were sharing a handshake and thanking the donor in person.
You might not know your donor’s name right off the bat if the scholarship is coming from an organization. However, do your best to find the name of the person in charge, such as the CEO of the organization that’s giving you the scholarship. It’s much better to put a person’s name on the letter rather than sending it to a large corporation — you wouldn’t want your efforts to be wasted.
by Melissa Brock | Oct 20, 2019 | Ask the admission office |
You — or someone you know — has decided to go off to college. Hurray! Whether you or your kiddo are headed off to a university, liberal arts college, community college or elsewhere, you might learn that a college’s application process involves “rolling admission.”
What is rolling admission? It simply means that the college(s) you’re interested in will review applications as they receive them.
What Do I Need to Know About Rolling Admission?
Rolling admission means that colleges accept (and deny) students on a continuing basis. For example, you can get an admission decision whether you apply to colleges in October or April — you’ll usually find out whether you’ve been admitted within approximately two to four weeks.
But does that mean you should wait until April of your senior year to apply to schools? Probably not. Some schools have a priority deadline for rolling admission. Your application should be in earlier so you can increase your chance of acceptance. Beyond the priority deadline, the school will accept applications until all spots are filled.
Rolling admission is different than early decision or early action. Early decision schools are binding, which means that you apply early to a school and then you must attend that school when you’re accepted.
Early action schools are non-binding, which means that you can apply to several early decision schools and then make a final decision on May 1 — just like you can with rolling admission.
The major difference between early decision and early action schools is that they have a firm application deadline — unlike schools with rolling admission.
Steps to Apply to a College with Rolling Admission
Rolling admission offers a lot of benefits — particularly when you’re a busy high school student. Let’s say you (or your kiddo, if you’re a parent) must balance play rehearsal, cross country practice, homework and more every night of the week. It’s tough to find time to apply, so rolling admission can offer a little breathing room.
Step 1: Visit colleges so you know where you’d like to apply.
Visit several different types of schools. Call up the admission office at each college or university and talk to an actual person. For example, you might talk to the campus visit coordinator at a liberal arts college and a state university and plan to visit each school’s engineering department.
Visit schools early on in your high school years — don’t wait until April of your senior year and then go on a college visit frenzy. Start sophomore or junior year and ease into it. Sprinkle a couple of visits throughout summer break after sophomore year. Add one to spring break junior year. Hit even more colleges during the fall of your senior year.
Think you’re behind on college visits? It’s okay — that’s why rolling admission is a major benefit. Treat this as an adventure. Visiting colleges can be so much fun!
Step 2: Ask colleges about their application processes.
Ask multiple questions about the application processes and admission requirements at every school (in detail!). The admission counselor is the best person to ask when you’re on your college visits. Here are five great questions you can ask your admission counselor:
- When does your application process open?
- When must my application be complete?
- What does your application involve (essay, letters of recommendation, resume, etc.)?
- What are your best tips for filling out the application?
- How long will it take me to complete?
Step 3: Apply for admission.
You’re ready to apply? Yesssssssss! So exciting. Read the application form in depth. (After all, it’s not a good feeling when you submit something as important as a college application and you realize that you’ve forgotten to include, say, a critical part of your college essay.) Your application form, which is almost always done online but could be done on a paper version in some cases, may include:
- An essay or another type of writing sample: Get help with this! This must be your very best work. It’s worth it to have an English teacher or other savvy adult work through the components of the essay or writing sample.
- Letters of recommendation: Some schools require you to submit letters of recommendation. Others do not. Check with each individual school for more information. Be sure you select people who can speak to your academic strengths — in other words, steer clear of athletic coaches or others who cannot comment on your performance in the classroom. Choose teachers from core subjects — math, English, science and history.
- List of activities: The application will ask for a list of your activities — both in school and outside of school. Be sure it’s a comprehensive, chronological list that highlights your interests. Schools will take your activities into serious consideration when they assess your application.
- Creative work: Schools might require you to submit creative work for additional scholarships or as a requirement for admission.
Another quick note: The application may ask you whether you plan to file the Free Application For Student Aid, or the FAFSA. Don’t plan to file the FAFSA? You might need to indicate that on your application.
Your application might allow you to apply to several schools at once — the Common, Coalition and Universal applications can allow you to apply for over 800 schools at once!
Step 4: Send in your transcripts and test scores.
Each school may ask for your transcripts and test scores, but make sure you’re sending the right information.
- Transcripts: Ask your high school to mail in an official copy of your transcripts. Some colleges and universities don’t require official transcripts at the time of application and may just need them when you officially graduate. Ask the school to be sure.
- Test scores (ACT or SAT tests are the most common): Have you taken your ACT or SAT? If not, take them — pronto — and have the scores sent directly to the schools you’re applying to. Learn about testing dates and fees on the ACT and SAT websites.
Step 5: Pay the application fee and submit.
Some applications require an application fee and others offer a free application — especially when you do a college visit at that particular school. You can pay the application fee via check, money order or credit card. Double-check to make sure that you included everything that’s required for the application and take a deep breath — and hit submit. Hurray!
Step 6: Wait for an official acceptance.
You’ll receive notification of your acceptance via regular mail within two to four weeks — do a happy dance! You might often receive a couple of other notifications from a school, possibly via email and maybe even communication from your admission counselor or other admission personnel at the schools you applied to.
Now, you know that there’s also the possibility of a denied application. What happens if you’re not accepted? You can file an appeal. Every college handles appeals differently, so do your best to learn everything about the appeal process first.
Be sure you have a good reason for an appeal — not just being upset with the admission office’s decision. Write an appeal letter that points to specific reasons for lackluster performance, such as a death in the family or a long-term illness that you suffered from during your sophomore year. Be explicit. And whatever you do, don’t be accusatory toward the admission office for denying you.
Get an alternative plan ready to go at a different college, because appeals often don’t succeed — particularly if you’re denied admission from a highly selective school. Also remember that just because you’ve been denied admission at one point, it doesn’t mean you can’t reapply as a transfer student someday.
Why Opt for a School with Rolling Admission?
Rolling admission shouldn’t be the only reason you apply to a school. There obviously must be other compelling factors. Rolling admission should only be one of the “extra perks” that can help you make your best decision ever. Other factors that are arguably more important include:
- Fit: Does the school feel “right” to you?
- Location: Is the college in the right city, state or even the right country?
- Academics: Does the college excel in the major you’ve selected — or even better, have an overall excellent academic reputation? Remember, you don’t need to have your major selected prior to attending college.
- Athletics: Is the coach for the sport you play the one you can envision playing for over the next four years? Are your teammates people you know you can get along with?
- Social: Is the social atmosphere the right one for you? What do students do on the weekends? A great way to gauge that is to do an overnight visit on campus before you make your final decision.
- Career opportunities: Does the school offer an excellent career center that can help you make connections over the next four years? Can the career center offer you leads to internships and alumni connections that can make it possible for you to get a job after you graduate?
Can you think of other factors that will make it on your list? Of course you can. Maybe a school makes it onto your list because it has an outstanding knitting club — or a championship bowling team.
Find the Right Fit College No Matter What
One more thing to remember: A college’s specific admission type doesn’t indicate the caliber of the school at all. Just because a school is an “early decision” school doesn’t mean it’s “better” — just like rolling admission doesn’t mean it’s a “B” school. A lot of great schools require rolling admission. In short, don’t base your assessment of a school on the type of admission it uses.
by Melissa Brock | Oct 9, 2019 | Financial aid and scholarships |
The perfect college visit scenario: You crunch through the leaves on a beautiful college campus and listen to a tour guide’s perfect spiel on a 70-degree October day.
The reality: You might’ve had the gorgeous campus tour. But then — you find yourself in the financial aid director’s office. He’s saying words like “FAFSA” and “FSA ID” — and then, he turns you loose. You feel a little… blurry.
A college decision is a thrilling adventure — so let’s keep it that way. We’ll completely demystify the FAFSA for you.
What is the Free Application For Student Aid (FASFA)?
The Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free application that gives you access to federal and institutional aid to pay for college. You’ll get access to federal grants, work study and loans. Colleges use your FAFSA results to determine your eligibility for different types of aid. Private financial aid providers may also use your FAFSA application to determine whether you qualify for the type of aid they provide as well.
Still sound a little murky? Never fear — we’ll cover how to file the FAFSA next.
How to fill out the FAFSA
Here are the steps you’ll need to take to fill out the FAFSA — whether you’re a student, parent, guardian, grandparent or if you’re filling it out for yourself.
First, grab a few documents before you even sit down at the computer:
- Social Security numbers for parents and students
- Your driver’s license number
- Your alien registration number if you aren’t a U.S. citizen
- Tax returns and W-2s
- Information for income such as child support, interest income and more
- Statements for cash, savings and checking accounts, investment accounts and more
Step 1: Get your FSA ID.
An FSA ID is a username and password that’s unique and confirms your identity when you’re looking at or signing official financial aid documents. Let’s say you’re filling out the FAFSA for your dependent student. You’ll need two separate FSA IDs — one for you and one for your child. Remember that you’ll need to remember your FSA ID every year that you file the FAFSA — lock it in your memory bank.
Just kidding. You might never remember it ever again. Write it down and save it somewhere safe.
Step 2: Go to the FAFSA login page.
Find “Start here” on FAFSA.gov and enter your student’s name, Social Security number and date of birth. Be absolutely sure your name and Social Security numbers match what’s on your Social Security card — lots of financial aid personnel at colleges encounter a problem when these don’t match.
Step 3: List colleges and universities.
You can list up to 10 colleges and universities where you want the FAFSA sent — but you must choose at least one. Use the Federal School Code search to identify each of the schools on your list.
Step 4: Know your dependency status.
Some students might consider themselves an independent student — but the reality is that it’s really tough to declare yourself an independent student, even if you don’t live with your parents. Here’s the checklist that can lead you through the process so you know for sure.
Step 5: Add parent information.
You’re going to have to add legal parent(s) on the FAFSA if you’re a dependent student or add your own name if you’re filing for a dependent.
- You must almost always list a stepparent who is married to your legal parent.
- Let’s say that your parents are divorced — you’ll include information for the parent you live with most of the time.
- You’ll need to list both parents if they live together, regardless of whether they’re the same or opposite sex.
Step 6: Offer up financial information.
You’ll need to gather up tax information from 2018 for the 2020-2021 FAFSA.
The data retrieval tool (IRS DRT) takes most of the work out of filing the FAFSA. It pulls information from the IRS and prepopulates it onto your FAFSA. Here’s a quick overview of how it works:
- Go to the IRS website through the DRT and fill out your name exactly as it is on your taxes.
- You’ll be able to find a page that tells you that your tax information is ready to go and you’ll be able to use that page to import your information directly onto the FAFSA form.
- You’ll be able to see “Transferred from the IRS” in the correct fields on your FAFSA but won’t be able to see exactly what’s in these fields. In other words, you won’t be able to change this information.
- You can opt to fill in all parts of the FAFSA manually instead of using the IRS DRT.
Step 7: Sign and submit your FAFSA.
Sign with your FSA ID and that ensures that your form is processed quickly. You do have the option to print, sign and mail in a signature page to submit your FAFSA, though that won’t be processed as quickly as it would if you used the FSA ID.
How does the FAFSA work?
Next, the magic happens in each college’s financial aid office. The colleges you’re interested in attending will use your FAFSA results to determine your eligibility for financial aid. The financial aid office at every school uses a couple of pieces of information, including:
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC): Your EFC is a formulated number (the formula is established by the federal government) which helps colleges and universities determine how much you could feasibly pay for college. (Note: Don’t be alarmed if your EFC seems high. Many families feel that way.)
- Year in school
- Enrollment status: The schools will need to know whether you’re going to be a full-time or half-time student.
- Cost of attendance (COA): The COA is the amount you’ll pay to attend each school. It may include — but is not limited to — tuition, room, board and fees, books, supplies, transportation costs, loan fees and more.
The schools you’re considering might have other forms you’ll need to fill out to get financial aid specifically from each school, so check each financial aid office for more information.
Each school will also have a different timeline to release aid. Some colleges can get your financial aid award to you within two weeks — but this varies from school to school. Just ask.
What does the FAFSA get you?
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to file the FAFSA — but know that you could miss out on certain need-based aid if you don’t. The aid you could get comes in four major flavors: Scholarships, grants, loans and work study. Here’s the scoop.
Federal aid
Federal aid is given through the U.S. Department of Education primarily through grants, work study funds and low-interest loans.
- Grants don’t have to be repaid, unless you withdraw from school and owe money to the program that provides you the grant.
- Work study is a program through your school that allows you to work at your school and earn money.
- Federal student loans are borrowed money that must be repaid. Federal student loans are the best loans you can get because they typically offer the lowest interest rates on the market.
There are other federal aid opportunities, too. You might qualify for aid as the spouse or dependent of a veteran, as a foster care youth and more.
State aid
You might not qualify for federal grants — so check with the department of education, the higher education agency or adult education agency in your state to see what types of grants may be available to you. Note: The colleges and universities you’ve applied to will also be able to tell you whether you qualify for state grants or other state aid.
College or university aid
The colleges and universities you’ve applied to will evaluate your FAFSA and award you directly from their own funds, too. Scholarships can offer you a major boost. Scholarships are like grants — you don’t have to pay back the money you’re awarded.
You’ll see the need-based scholarships you’ve received after you get your financial aid award. But if you want to be proactive, ask your admission counselor at each college for more information about all scholarships available.
When is the FAFSA due?
The federal FAFSA deadline is June 30, but the schools you’re applying to might require you to submit it before then. Don’t miss schools’ deadlines — check with each individual school so you don’t miss out on getting as much financial aid as possible.
As of October 1, 2019, you could file the FAFSA for the 2020-2021 academic year.
File the FAFSA now
You’ll be able to check your FAFSA form’s status immediately after you submit the online form. A paper FAFSA form takes a bit longer. You can learn more about 7–10 days you mail it in — either log in to fafsa.gov or contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center.
Again — remember that you should never pay money to complete the FAFSA. You know you’ve encountered a scam website if a site asks you for your credit card information. Close out of the website immediately and go to fafsa.ed.gov.
