<p>Hello, everyone. Please don't write me off as some slacking unprepared individual. It's currently summer and i'm entering my senior year. I planned to start college research today but I earnestly don't know where to go, what to do (where to look?). I was told my counselor was the best person to seek information from but in short, she wasn't really helpful. So can someone please generally lay down where i could go to learn about schools? Theres so many. I have interests but i just don't think I can visit every colleges website or showings in my city. I'm sure most of you are busy with your own hand lings but please help me out</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>What subjects are you strong in? And you like?</p>
<p>What is your GPA?</p>
<p>What are your test scores?</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay each year? </p>
<p>What else do you want in a school outside of academics?</p>
<p>There are a few good websites for finding and researching colleges. collegeboard.com is one of the main websites. I also use *****, which can be used to find scholarships too.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids</p>
<p>I’m strong in Chemistry, History, and English. I really enjoy working on Chemistry and Calculus (my grade in this course isn’t the best but i love learning the subject matter and can perform well) I have yet to take AP Biology but i enjoyed honors very much so. I have always done well in all sciences and liked most BESIDES Physics.</p>
<p>I actually have not received my updated GPA from the courses I took junior year. Is there a way to calculate it manually? because I know my grades. I remember I had an unweighted 3.66 and weighted 4.9 but this should increase because of 3 grade changes (2 of them AP into A’s)</p>
<p>Just SAT? Well in my first attempt with decent preparation i scored 1680. I have since taken it again with more preparation and have not received the results. I know I would need at least 2000 (probably higher) for Ivy Leagues and hope to attain at least 2000 or close to it. Not sure what other tests scores to cite?</p>
<p>My parents are middle class. I can’t offer a firm answer. I can only say as much as I’d need too. Maybe 5,000 with scholarships but most likely more.</p>
<p>I just want a school with students I can rely on and stay away from drugs or heavy drinking (might sound a tad corny). Just a civil and varied institution. I guess that would mean a big school. Weather and content (in terms of what the area has to offer like monuments or beauty) are both factors that as of now I don’t think should bother me. I guess i’m saying a school with variety is what I’d like. My brother attends the university of florida and i have to say i enjoy visiting the school when i visit him. </p>
<p>@kagami6918 Thank you, i’ll look over collegeboard but what website was censored in your post…</p>
<p>I remember I had an unweighted 3.66 and weighted 4.9 but this should increase because of 3 grade changes (2 of them AP into A’s)</p>
<p>Just SAT? Well in my first attempt with decent preparation i scored 1680. I have since taken it again with more preparation and have not received the results. I know I would need at least 2000 (probably higher) for Ivy Leagues and hope to attain at least 2000 or close to it. Not sure what other tests scores to cite?</p>
<p>My parents are middle class. I can’t offer a firm answer. I can only say as much as I’d need too. Maybe 5,000 with scholarships but most likely more.</p>
<p>Will you qualify for Bright Futures in Florida? How much do your parents have to pay for UF? Does your Bro get Bright Futures? Do you know what your brother’s EFC is? Can you ask him?</p>
<p>When you say that your parents are “middle class”…do you mean with an income of like $60k per year?..or middle class with an income of $100k or more?</p>
<p>You would need a LOT higher than a 2000 to be competitive for an ivy. Kids getting into ivies these days have 2250+…and near-perfect GPAs.</p>
<p>I don’t think ivies or similar are likely for you. It’s highly unlikely that someone with a 1680 SAT is going to increase to an elite level. </p>
<p>I’m strong in Chemistry, History, and English. I really enjoy working on Chemistry and Calculus (my grade in this course isn’t the best but i love learning the subject matter and can perform well) I have yet to take AP Biology but i enjoyed honors very much so. I have always done well in all sciences and liked most BESIDES Physics.</p>
<p>what kind of career do you see yourself having?</p>
<p>Woah, why was it censored? That’s weird…erm. Zinc with an h. There. That’s basically the website name.</p>
<p>I personally like Fiske Guide to Colleges. It is the size of a phone book and has two to three page descriptions of over 300 colleges and universities in the U.S. It has a brief questionnaire to help you identify your priorities and preferences, has lists of schools that are strong in various areas, gives the school’s test score ranges, acceptance rate, enrollment rate, overlap schools (kids who like this school also tend to apply to these other schools), and a whole lot of other goodies. It is revised every year, but I would still verify data on school websites. Peruse the books in the college search section of a large bookstore or on Amazon. </p>
<p>Read the Financial Aid section of this web site. Except for the small percentage of students with wealthy parents, other other kids need <em>financial safeties</em>. This means a school their parents can afford AND that they would be willing to attend. Most schools do not meet financial need, unfortunately. A number of schools, however, offer merit aid (scholarships) which can make up for that. </p>
<p>Are you and your brother the first generation to attend college? I know the research can feel overwhelming, but I think it is great that you are considering whether UF is the best match for you or not.</p>