<p>Yes, you can go to college. Colleges look for high performing minority kids and kids who are first in their family to go to college. You are a desirable candidate. Since your family is poor, you will qualify for a lot of “need based” financial aid. The trick is to find the schools that will pay for that need and get accepted to them.</p>
<p>Going to college can open up opportunities to have a career and make a better living. Living out of Compton in a place where people are ambitious and there are professors and mentors to help you will be a life changing plan. You should do it. </p>
<p>Apply to the Questbridge program. They can help you with your college process. Look at their website and there is also a forum here about it. You are supposed to apply when you are a Junior, but they have something for Seniors too.
[Questbridge</a> Programs - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/questbridge-programs/]Questbridge”>Questbridge Programs - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Your SAT is only average. It isn’t high enough to get you into some of the programs that give full rides. It would pay off big time for you if you do a systematic study and increase that grade. You can take the exam again in October. Read the pinned threads here for study tips:
[SAT</a> Preparation - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/]SAT”>SAT Preparation - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Also there is a video instruction for the math section on this excellent website. You need to buy the 1st Edition of the College Board book to use alongside:
<a href=“https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat-math[/url]”>https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat-math</a></p>
<p>To start the college process you should open up the Common Application and start filling it out. You don’t need to send it until you pick your schools and finish your essays.
<a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/Login[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/Login</a></p>
<p>You will also need to fill out financial aid forms.</p>
<p>You will likely qualify for at least one UC school. You will get need based aid, cal grants and loans to cover your tuition, room and board and costs. 6 years ago that would have meant about $5,000 in loans for you. It is likely a bit more now.</p>
<p>You family will likely have to supply your health insurance, about $1,500 a year and your transportation to school, maybe a plane ticket. Start planning for that now.</p>
<p>You can learn a lot from this board and people will be happy to help you. But it will be best for your if you have a helpful guidance counselor or teacher to assist. I sometimes read and comment on essays, so if you want feedback you can PM to me. My daughter had a full ride to her school. I also met a girl from South Central who went to her college fully paid. She had never met anyone who went to college except her teachers, who helped her.</p>