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Catch Their Eye While You're Still In High School
Here are a few tips to help you get noticed by the college(s) You're applying for:
- Take some honors or advanced placement classes while in high school. Colleges like to see that you do not shy away from difficult courses.
- Be involved with extracurricular activities and try to take leadership roles. Colleges love to admit students who will likely contribute to activities provided by the school.
- Prepare and practice for the necessary standardized and admissions tests so you can achieve a score that will impress the college admissions office.
- Give a lot of thought and effort to your application essay. Provide examples that show responsibility and dedication in what you do. Make sure you get several people to proof read the essay before submitting it.
- Give a lot of thought and effort to your resume. This should include academic and work accomplishments, as well as any honors or awards you have received. These suggest to the college that you will push yourself to succeed.
- Gather together letters of recommendations from teachers, coaches, activity coordinators, and employers to provide evidence of your hard work, determination, and talents.
Speak with College Faculty and Staff
One of the first steps in preparation should be to meet with college counselors, college admissions staff, and financial aid staff. They can give you an idea of what will be expected when You're ready to make your commitment to a school and how to prepare.
Know the Required Testing
Know what standardized and admissions tests are needed, as well as the score requirements on those tests, to be admitted into the school(s) of your choice. Its often a good idea to take both the SAT and ACT, even if your school of choice does not require the test to be taken, just incase you change your mind on what school you would like to attend.
Be Organized
Create a calendar of events that lists each item required for admissions and financial aid, with their deadlines.
Paying For College
What are the costs (tuition, books, housing, etc.) and how will you pay for those costs? If you, like many, do not have a college fund set up that will pay for all of your college fees, here are a few tips:
- Speak with the schools financial aid office to determine what payment options are available to you, such as financial aid, scholarships, and student loans.
- Make sure you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible.
- Do some research and see if there are any private scholarships you can apply for.
- If you take time to research and ask for help through the process, you may find that college is much more affordable than you originally thought.
*The information listed above is intended as suggestions for the pre-planning stage and not professional advice. We do not guarantee that these tips will be helpful to everyone, as each person's situation varies. Texas DPS Credit Union always recommends that you seek the assistance of a professional advisor.
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