Table of Contents
Streamline the College Selection Process and Get the Best Financial Aid iii
Introduction vii
Part I High School Classes and Tests: The First Steps Toward the Best College for You 1
Chapter 1 Where Do You Start? 1
Chapter 2 What About Your Schedule? 9
Chapter 3 What Should You Do During Your Freshman Year? 15
Chapter 4 What Should You Do During Your Sophomore Year? 21
Chapter 5 What Should You Do During Your Junior Year? 27
Chapter 6 What Should You Do Before Your Senior Year? 33
Chapter 7 What Should You Do During Your Senior Year? 38
Chapter 8 What Are AP and IB Classes? 45
Chapter 9 Should You Earn College Credits in High School? 50
Chapter 10 How Are the ACT and SAT Different? 56
Chapter 11 Should You Take the PSAT, ACT, SAT, or ASVAB? 63
Chapter 12 How Can You Improve your Chances of Doing Well on the ACT or SAT? 70
Chapter 13 Are Standardized Tests Fading in Importance? 76
Chapter 14 What Are Some Test-Taking Strategies? 83
Chapter 15 How Can Parents Help Hight School Students in the College Preparation Process? 88
Part II Starting the Search for the Best College for You 96
Chapter 16 Who Can Be Successful in College? 97
Chapter 17 What Are College Looking for in a Student? 102
Chapter 18 What Are the Best Choices for You? 108
Chapter 19 How Do Your Begin Selecting a College? 114
Chapter 20 What Are the Differences Among Junior Colleges, State Universities, and Private Colleges? 119
Chapter 21 Do You Want to Attend College in Your Home State? 125
Chapter 22 What Are the Levels of Colleges? 129
Chapter 23 What Is the Timeline for a College Search? 135
Chapter 24 What Can You Learn from College Guides? 142
Chapter 25 What AreSome Important Details to Learn About a College? 148
Chapter 26 What Are Seven Reasons to Not Pick a College? 154
Chapter 27 What Is the Role of the Counselor? 159
Chapter 28 What Are Some Trends in College Admissions? 165
Chapter 29 How Can You Get a Good Letter of Recommendation? 170
Chapter 30 What Are the Most Popular College Majors? 176
Chapter 31 What If You Have a Learning Disability? 182
Part III College Visits: A Key Step in Finding the Best School for You 188
Chapter 32 When Should You Visit Colleges? 189
Chapter 33 Which Colleges Should You Visit First? 193
Chapter 34 What Should You Look for on a College Visit? 198
Chapter 35 What Should You Look for in Housing and the Cafeteria? 203
Chapter 36 What Should You Do at a College Interview? 206
Chapter 37 What Are Some Recent Changes on Campus? 211
Chapter 38 What Can You Learn from Viewbooks, Brochures, and Magazines? 215
Chapter 39 What Is a College Catalog and How Should You Best Use It? 218
Part IV Applying to the Best Colleges for You 222
Chapter 40 How and When Do You Choose a Major? 223
Chapter 41 What Are Some Sources to Help You Decide on a Major? 226
Chapter 42 Why Should You Apply Early and Often? 231
Chapter 43 How Can You Increase Your Chances of Acceptance? 237
Chapter 44 When Would You Use a Resume? 241
Chapter 45 How Should You Organize Your Resume? 245
Chapter 46 Where Are You Most Likely to Get a Scholarship? 250
Chapter 47 What Are Some Common Mistakes Made in Searching for a College? 254
Chapter 48 Are You a Candidate for a Military Academy? 261
Chapter 49 What Are Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Admission? 266
Chapter 50 How Can You Prepare for Writing Essays? 271
Chapter 51 When and Why Will You Be Writing Essays? 275
Chapter 52 What Do Colleges Want to See in Essays? 278
Part V How You Can Afford the Best College for You 283
Chapter 53 How Can You Save Money for College? 284
Chapter 54 Can You Afford College? 290
Chapter 55 What Are Scholarships, Grants, Financial Aid, Loans, and Work-Study? 294
Chapter 56 Where Can You Find Scholarships? 299
Chapter 57 Should You Attend a Scholarship Weekend? 304
Chapter 58 How Are Scholarships Applied to College Costs? 307
Chapter 59 Are There Guaranteed Scholarships? 310
Chapter 60 How Can an Athlete Obtain a Scholarship? 313
Chapter 61 Can Arrests Affect Your College Opportunities? 317
Chapter 62 Are Three Other Ways to Lose Scholarships? 321
Chapter 63 How Can You Increase Your Chances for Receiving a Good Financial Aid Package? 327
Chapter 64 What Are the Differences Among Student Loans? 333
Chapter 65 What Should You Know About the FAFSA? 337
Chapter 66 What Is an EFC? 342
Chapter 67 What Is an Award Letter? 347
Chapter 68 Which Award Letter Is Best? 353
Chapter 69 What Do You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA? 357
Chapter 70 Why Is the Timing of the FAFSA Filing Important? 361
Chapter 71 How Can Enlisting in the Military Help You Pay for College? 365
Chapter 72 What Are Some College Scams to Watch For? 369
Appendix: Using the Best College for You CD-ROM 372
Index 375
