<p>Hi Melissa. I’m sorry to hear about your dad. I’m glad you have your mom to help you through this process. </p>
<p>How you compile your application materials will depend on what it is you decide to do. You have majors you’re interested in? Great. I’d start by researching colleges within commuting distance to see which ones offer your major(s). When you find one you like (size, location, etc), check their admission policies. You can google the Common Data Set for each college to find out what SAT scores they accept, how many kids they admit, costs, average aid given out, and a lot more. If your stats are in the ballpark, check out finances. How much does it cost to go there (including tuition, room & board, books, travel to and from, day to day expenses like coffee, toiletries, etc)? Run the Net Price Calculator (each college site has one) to get a rough estimate of how much it will cost you to attend. If it’s affordable (you can do it without taking out more than the federal loan limits, which are $5500 as a freshman, $6500 as a soph, and $7500 each year as a jr and senior), add them to your list. Then branch out. As long as you have affordable options you’d be happy to attend if your financial and academic reaches fall through, you can add those reach schools. Just make sure to research them too and know why you want them. Look at the programs they offer, size, location, etc. and make sure each one is a good fit for you.</p>
<p>When you know what you want, it will be easier to put your application together. My kids do a variety of activities too, but when my son created his application he included only those that added something to it. He used a sport to show dedication and longterm commitment, a couple others directly related to his major, another showed his involvement in our community. It will fall together, but you have to take it one step at a time. Good luck.</p>