I have college questions (high school senior)

[Dogrules23]

This year for me school starts the 31st and I'll be a senior. I'm thinking this will be the busiest year of my life (so far). I have to "finish" a book I've been writing because I made the stupid decision of making it my senior project, I have to apply for scholarships and colleges, and I have to make sure I pass. (Those are my major worries right now, I have other minor ones).

My questions are as follows (probably will have more as I think):

1. What do colleges actually look at when they read your transcript?
2. What scholarships are recommended for a C average student?
3. What in the world is the "Common App"? I saw about it on a college's website.
4. When should I apply for scholarships?
5. When should I apply to colleges?
6. How many colleges should I apply to?

[Jean Poutine]

1. What do colleges actually look at when they read your transcript?
2. What scholarships are recommended for a C average student?
3. What in the world is the "Common App"? I saw about it on a college's website.
4. When should I apply for scholarships?
5. When should I apply to colleges?
6. How many colleges should I apply to?

1. Well, your GPA. Maybe individual grades depending on the program.
2. Uh, I don't know? Where I'm from, a C student can forget all about scholarships. Maybe look for things like leadership or sports or community involvement, sometimes there are a few of these.
3. It's this : https://www.commonapp.org/
4. ASAP
5. ASAP
6. More than one - I'd say 3

[wolf g]

sorry i don't have any idea wish if you will find what are you looking for

[Dogrules23]

1. Well, your GPA. Maybe individual grades depending on the program.
2. Uh, I don't know? Where I'm from, a C student can forget all about scholarships. Maybe look for things like leadership or sports or community involvement, sometimes there are a few of these.
3. It's this : https://www.commonapp.org/
4. ASAP
5. ASAP
6. More than one - I'd say 3

Thanks so much!

[Rydar8]

1. What do colleges actually look at when they read your transcript? Grades, and outside of class involvement are the most important things.

2. What scholarships are recommended for a C average student? I'm not sure, try asking your school counselor, they know how to help.

3. What in the world is the "Common App"? I saw about it on a college's website. The common app is a tool used by many colleges around the USA, basically you submit just one application to the app and it goes to all the colleges that use it instead of sending individual applications to each college.

4. When should I apply for scholarships? NOW, the earlier you apply, the better.

5. When should I apply to colleges? NOW, the earlier you apply, the more likely chance you have of getting in.

6. How many colleges should I apply to? As many as you desire, but you should apply to at least 5.

[Elysium]

FYI, many colleges have a round of "Early Decision" applications. These applications are normally due in early November. It's the same as any other application, except you can only apply to one school ED and you'll hear back in December. You can be rejected, accepted, or deferred. If you're accepted, it's binding, meaning you are required to go to that school and you must withdraw any and all other applications to other schools. If you're deferred, that means they're considering you as part of their Regular Decision applicant pool. Schools may also have a second round of ED or an Early Action application, which is essentially the same as ED except it's not binding. I believe Regular Decision deadlines are in early January and you'd hear back in March. You can apply to as many schools RD as you'd like. There are pros and cons to applying ED vs RD, but ED applicants usually have a better chance of acceptance. If you apply ED, just be very sure it's the school you want to go to!

Does your school have a college counselor? If so, you should really talk to them ASAP. By now, you should have taken your standardized test(s) (SAT/SAT IIs and/or ACT).

[kryptonite]

Apply to as many as you'd like. IMO, you can't apply for too few. Have a general idea of what you want to do in life and apply for a program that'll get you situated with a good degree, etc.

And talk to your school's guidance counselor. Many colleges will visit your HS. Take advantage of those visits. Likewise, take a Saturday, Sunday or a school holiday and visit colleges on your list. Let their guidance counselors know you're coming and they can answer questions, set you up with a tour, or maybe even have you meet a current student, visit a dorm, etc.

[Dogrules23]

1. What do colleges actually look at when they read your transcript? Grades, and outside of class involvement are the most important things.

2. What scholarships are recommended for a C average student? I'm not sure, try asking your school counselor, they know how to help.

3. What in the world is the "Common App"? I saw about it on a college's website. The common app is a tool used by many colleges around the USA, basically you submit just one application to the app and it goes to all the colleges that use it instead of sending individual applications to each college.

4. When should I apply for scholarships? NOW, the earlier you apply, the better.

5. When should I apply to colleges? NOW, the earlier you apply, the more likely chance you have of getting in.

6. How many colleges should I apply to? As many as you desire, but you should apply to at least 5.
Thanks!

FYI, many colleges have a round of "Early Decision" applications. These applications are normally due in early November. It's the same as any other application, except you can only apply to one school ED and you'll hear back in December. You can be rejected, accepted, or deferred. If you're accepted, it's binding, meaning you are required to go to that school and you must withdraw any and all other applications to other schools. If you're deferred, that means they're considering you as part of their Regular Decision applicant pool. Schools may also have a second round of ED or an Early Action application, which is essentially the same as ED except it's not binding. I believe Regular Decision deadlines are in early January and you'd hear back in March. You can apply to as many schools RD as you'd like. There are pros and cons to applying ED vs RD, but ED applicants usually have a better chance of acceptance. If you apply ED, just be very sure it's the school you want to go to!

Does your school have a college counselor? If so, you should really talk to them ASAP. By now, you should have taken your standardized test(s) (SAT/SAT IIs and/or ACT).
Thanks for all the information! I already took the SAT once and may take it again at some point, I'm not sure.

Apply to as many as you'd like. IMO, you can't apply for too few. Have a general idea of what you want to do in life and apply for a program that'll get you situated with a good degree, etc.

And talk to your school's guidance counselor. Many colleges will visit your HS. Take advantage of those visits. Likewise, take a Saturday, Sunday or a school holiday and visit colleges on your list. Let their guidance counselors know you're coming and they can answer questions, set you up with a tour, or maybe even have you meet a current student, visit a dorm, etc.
I already know that I want to be a video game designer, I've looked at many colleges that offer that, the #1 college on my list is Champlain College in Vermont.

Posts merged. Next time, please use the "Edit" or "Multi" button. ~Elysium

[Elysium]

Thanks for all the information! I already took the SAT once and may take it again at some point, I'm not sure.
Good! Have you taken SAT IIs? And do you know what super scoring is?

[Dogrules23]

Good! Have you taken SAT IIs? And do you know what super scoring is?

I haven't heard of the SAT IIs and I don't know what super scoring is.

[Elysium]

I haven't heard of the SAT IIs and I don't know what super scoring is.
Many schools require SAT IIs, or they call them "optional" when they really mean "you better do it." They are additional tests, like smaller versions of AP exams with more testing dates (like the SAT itself). They're each hour long subject tests - to name a few, chemistry; physics; biology; math 1; math 2 (the difference being the areas of math; math 1 is up to algebra II, math 2 is up to calculus or pre-calculus, not sure); lit; US history; etc. Most schools look for two subject tests and you can take any two you wish. You can study for them like the SAT if you want, but on the testing day you get to pick any ones you want and take them in any order. I believe the next date for SAT IIs is in October, but I'm not sure off the top of my head. They're scored similarly to the SAT, each test being scored out of 800.

Super scoring is the reason why it's advantageous to take the SAT or ACT multiple times. The basis is that colleges will take your best scores for each subject to compile them into one overall score, instead of just taking the score from one test. Say upon taking the SAT for the first time, you got 800s on reading and writing, but only a 700 on the math. If you took the SAT again and got less than 800 on the reading and writing but you got an 800 on the math, colleges would take only the scores of 800 from both tests and consider it an SAT score of 2400. Does that make sense? It applies to the ACT as well.

[Dogrules23]

Many schools require SAT IIs, or they call them "optional" when they really mean "you better do it." They are additional tests, like smaller versions of AP exams with more testing dates (like the SAT itself). They're each hour long subject tests - to name a few, chemistry; physics; biology; math 1; math 2 (the difference being the areas of math; math 1 is up to algebra II, math 2 is up to calculus or pre-calculus, not sure); lit; US history; etc. Most schools look for two subject tests and you can take any two you wish. You can study for them like the SAT if you want, but on the testing day you get to pick any ones you want and take them in any order. I believe the next date for SAT IIs is in October, but I'm not sure off the top of my head. They're scored similarly to the SAT, each test being scored out of 800.

Super scoring is the reason why it's advantageous to take the SAT or ACT multiple times. The basis is that colleges will take your best scores for each subject to compile them into one overall score, instead of just taking the score from one test. Say upon taking the SAT for the first time, you got 800s on reading and writing, but only a 700 on the math. If you took the SAT again and got less than 800 on the reading and writing but you got an 800 on the math, colleges would take only the scores of 800 from both tests and consider it an SAT score of 2400. Does that make sense? It applies to the ACT as well.
Oh, I've heard of SAT subject tests. I didn't know that colleges want the subject tests. The main college I'm looking at has them marked as "required for some". I'm looking at this: http://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/champlain-college

I have heard of super scoring but I didn't know it was called that. My mom tried to explain it to me. My SAT scores weren't in the 700 or 800 range. I don't think I even got a 600 in anything, I believe they were all in the mid to high 500s

[Elysium]

Oh, I've heard of SAT subject tests. I didn't know that colleges want the subject tests. The main college I'm looking at has them marked as "required for some". I'm looking at this: http://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/champlain-college

I have heard of super scoring but I didn't know it was called that. My mom tried to explain it to me. My SAT scores weren't in the 700 or 800 range. I don't think I even got a 600 in anything, I believe they were all in the mid to high 500s
Yeah, it really depends on the school, but as far as I know they're a pretty/nearly ubiquitous requirement.

If you think you can do some studying and do better in any subject area, it's worth taking the test again so you can take advantage of super scoring.

[Dogrules23]

Yeah, it really depends on the school, but as far as I know they're a pretty/nearly ubiquitous requirement.

If you think you can do some studying and do better in any subject area, it's worth taking the test again so you can take advantage of super scoring.

Are the subject tests more difficult than the regular SAT?

I might take it again just to see but I don't really think I could get any better than I did except maybe in reading.

I sent my SAT scores to these colleges (https://www.dropbox.com/s/wsu1zofc84b9f4p/Screenshot%202015-08-16%2016.28.28.png?dl=0)

Posts merged. Next time, please use the "Edit" button. ~Elysium

[Elysium]

Are the subject tests more difficult than the regular SAT?

I might take it again just to see but I don't really think I could get any better than I did except maybe in reading.

I sent my SAT scores to these colleges (https://www.dropbox.com/s/wsu1zofc84b9f4p/Screenshot%202015-08-16%2016.28.28.png?dl=0)

Posts merged. Next time, please use the "Edit" button. ~Elysium
Uh, I mean, they're different subjects entirely. It's the same format as the SAT, if that's what you're asking. I don't think they can really be compared in terms of difficulty.

It's worth a shot. Also, I don't know much about specific colleges, sorry :(

[Dogrules23]

Uh, I mean, they're different subjects entirely. It's the same format as the SAT, if that's what you're asking. I don't think they can really be compared in terms of difficulty.

It's worth a shot. Also, I don't know much about specific colleges, sorry :(

Oh, I'm not sure if I'll take those or not. I will if I need to though.

All those colleges have game design which is what I want to major in, and they aren't too far away from my home.

[Elysium]

Oh, I'm not sure if I'll take those or not. I will if I need to though.

All those colleges have game design which is what I want to major in, and they aren't too far away from my home.
You don't have much time to decide if you're considering applying ED. I really advise talking to a college counselor. Your school should have one.

That sounds like a good plan, then.

[Dogrules23]

You don't have much time to decide if you're considering applying ED. I really advise talking to a college counselor. Your school should have one.

That sounds like a good plan, then.

My school does have a college counselor, I will probably talk to her at some point once school starts the 31st.

The farthest one on that list is Full Sail in Florida.

[Elysium]

My school does have a college counselor, I will probably talk to her at some point once school starts the 31st.

The farthest one on that list is Full Sail in Florida.
Yeah, talk to her ASAP. Ask her about your chances, testing, and whether or not ED is a good option for you.

Never heard of it. :whoops:

[Dogrules23]

Yeah, talk to her ASAP. Ask her about your chances, testing, and whether or not ED is a good option for you.

Never heard of it. :whoops:

I'll do that when school starts, I doubt she's there now.

It mainly an art school, music, art, and games.

Also, if you've heard of it, is Academic Decathlon good to be involved in for college?