<p>After calculating the costs of a moderate college application package (applications, tests, score reports) it works out to $460.
Is this typical for an application cost? It seems like a lot of money, especially since I will be covering it myself. Do colleges make profit on their applications, or does the money simply cover their costs?</p>
<p>Good question, Willow. My wild guess is that the application fee, at least in part, cuts down on frivolous applications. Your costs seem high to me, but I never added everything up. Let's see: application fee. SAT sitting fee (cost divided by the number of colleges applied to. Score reports free up to a certain quantity). Small fee to HS for transcript. Copy fees and postage. What else?</p>
<p>(My second kid was much more expensive because he is a musician, and there were audition fees, not to mention travel costs.)</p>
<p>I'm sorry, I seem to have muddled the issue. What I meant was that the total cost of applying to college will be that amount or more:
Two more sittings of the SAT I
Four SAT II tests
One ACT test
Three college application fees
Six SAT score reports
One PSAT fee
SIX ACT score reports
One AP score report
Six high school transcripts
... And a partridge in a pear tree!</p>
<p>Oh no! We forgot the partridge! </p>
<p>Well, the costs seem much more in line now. In our case, the HS paid the AP fees (they don't anymore), and paid for the PSAT. He didn't need any extra SAT scores sent - or maybe just one. (They allow something like four free, don't they?) S#1 took SAT twice, ACT once, 7 APS (that we didn't have to pay for), applied to 5 schools (at $2 per transcript, plus application fees - averaging around $50-$75 each).</p>
<p>So, no, your costs don't seem way out of line. I'm curious, though, why you needed 6 score reports and 6 transcripst if you only applied to 3 schools?</p>
<p>Maybe willow applied to 3 colleges that did not charge application fees. </p>
<p>I think willow's cost estimate is low, actually, if the cost is for the whole process of applying to several colleges. If you add in costs for travel for visits, and things like SAT prep.... it can end up costing thousands.</p>
<p>The six score reports are for college applications, Florida Bright Futures, National Merit Scholars Program, and the Presidential Scholar program, if I should qualify for those last two. </p>
<p>My school also pays for AP exams. When I took the SAT, I didn't know to what schools I would be applying, so I didn't use my free score reports. Perhaps when I retest I'll be able to take advantage of those and save some money.</p>
<p>Thanks, calmom. I'd forgotten to budget money for prep books!</p>
<p>This question may be out of place, but why does the Presidential Scholars program require SAT scores from senior year? Is it to reduce the number of applicants? I ask this because if I can qualify and can somehow submit other scores, I can avoid another administration of the SAT I.</p>
<p>I know many of you parents have already gone through the applications process. Are there any hidden or unexpected costs I should be wary of?</p>
<p>Willow - my son took the SAT in June of junior year and scored 1600. That's the score that qualified him for nomination as a Presidential Scholar. I don't remember seeing anything about senior year SAT scores.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>applications, tests, score reports>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>These costs seem high as they imply that you are paying individually for score reports and tests, which is not always true. When you take the SAT, for example, the cost is a single cost not one for each school. In addition, if you get to send the scores to four schools at the administration WITHOUT cost. The most expensive application cost I've seen is $100, and even if you added the test and score reports, the additional costs for that one college would NOT be $360. Bottom line is...think before you apply and do so wisely. Some schools have early application deadlines whereby there is NOT application fee. Some schools waive the application fee if you have visited their school. Think about those 4 freebies when you take the SAT and use them for schools to which you REALLY plan to apply.</p>
<p>My son applied to only four schools and sat for the required tests just once (and no ACT). However, our school does not pay for AP tests, which for him totalled over $1K. Ouch!</p>
<p>My daughter only applied to 5 schools-didn't take ACT or AP, only 2 SAT tests, but if you are hard hit with application fees to schools, just wait till you see what you will be expected to pay for books, or room and board or medical :eek:</p>
<p>most schools will wave the app fee if it is a burden-- have your GC send a note. Some wave it if you apply on line. I doubt if the college board will wave anything - they are definitely in business to make money!</p>