@twocollegekids You’re so right about all the fees. If it’s not 1 fee it’s about 6 others. I hate fees! Hahaha
Ask the high school of they put test results on the transcript: most colleges accept those and it’ll be that much you won’t have to pay.
I second @MYOS1634 on the transcript.
Our high school does that and six of the seven schools DD applied to will accept the ACT scores off of it - I emailed to doublecheck. Only one required scores to be sent directly from the testing agency. I don’t think there is any good reason for that … the high school gets the scores directly from the testing agency.
Thankfully, when we visited SIU in the summer, the counselor mentioned in passing that we didn’t need to send the ACT scores separately if they are included in the transcript. Our son’s school uses Naviance and there’s a box to check if you want scores included. Another point she made was that his ACT scores were already in a realm where he didn’t need to retest for higher merit awards, thus saving another $46+. These points, by the way, were all offered by the counselor without being asked by me. Honestly, I wouldn’t have known to ask.
Which brings up another point - In the greater scheme of our son’s future, does attending the “right school” change his outcomes to such a degree as to merit borrowing additional money for him to attend? I ask this based on our current situation and having way too much time to obsess. Our son intends to earn a graduate degree and I’m wondering if earning his undergrad at a state school with great merit awarded and then attending a more selective school for his grad degree will afford him the same opportunities going forward? Your advice is much appreciated.
Better yet, when your child registers for the test have him check the box to have the scores sent to the high school
The high school will get an official school report where they can make copies out tgesvhool Stan/ seal on and send to the college
The high school will also get official score labels that they can put on the school letterhead verifying that they are official scores from the ACT. The counselor signs the letter with the school stamp/seal and submits to the college.
It depends on the state school. There are trade offs and it depends what you mean by “borrowing”, what “other schools” he gets into (keep in mind highly selective meet-need universities will factor in your medical bills through the CSS Profile whereas FAFSA-only public universities won’t), what he intends to study (some fields are prestige-hounds, some fields don’t care one bit).
Also, depends on what sort of grad school: All PHD programs worth attending will be funded, meaning his tuition will be paid for and he’ll get a stipend. Med school is always loan-based. Law school, it depends.
@Garden Mom I think is better don’t have loans if is possible as undergraduate to can save money or take loans for grade school.
I’d read many post with this recommendation here.
My son is right now in State College, and he is very happy, because was his favorite safety. (He always like to study there, his scores work to receive a excellent scholarship)
He had good offers from amazing private Colleges, but we need to choose, be worried about pay, work- study, etc.
His mayor is better ranked in State College than in the private ones that he received scholarships.
We are gonna have savings to pay for his Master degree perhaps in a better University.