<p>im a sophomore in High school and i need to start thinking about college. Im new to all this and i just thought better advice would come from the Parents section. Being a relatively talented artist and an advocate for math, could anyone guide me to have a chance at top schools?</p>
<p>boo1234x, Sophomore year is a good time for gathering information. Top schools are looking for four things: Excellent grades in rigorous curriculums, class standing in the top percentage, high test scores on the SATs or ACT, in-depth extracurricular activities. (When you submit your applications you will also need compelling essays and superb recommendations, but don't worry about that just yet.) In addition to these basics, it helps to have a "hook" or something that sets you apart from the other 100,000 applicants with grades, scores, and the usual laundry list of accomplishments. Being an accomplished artist is a good hook. Start keeping track of your art classes, awards, showings, and any other related activities. If art is going to be your hook, make a lot of art! (That's just for example. You may have another equally alluring hook.)</p>
<p>At this time you should also start to familiarize yourself with all the wonderful colleges available. Don't just concentrate on those famous "top schools." Get a book or do some research on the internet. Focus on a short list (maybe 25-30 schools for now; you can narrow down to 8-10 later) that are right for you. Location, size, ambience, financial aid, selectivity all play a part. Now is the time to expand and investigate, not eliminate. Maybe you can do some visiting this summer.</p>
<p>Does your high school have a college counselor? Usually by the end of 10th grade they start setting up meeting for kids and their parents to help them navigate this very complex process.</p>
<p>wow thx. I didn't know they had college counselors at my school. Ill have to see into that. Thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>A few other thoughts: Now is also the time to start thinking a bit about what type of college you might like. How? Think about what your favorite classes are - what makes them special in terms of how the teacher teaches or what you do. Do you like classes that stress writing or discussion or research or a bit of all three? What are your friends like - conservative, liberal, artsy, athletic? Do you want a college where the people are mostly like you or where you will meet lots of very different people? What do you like to do in your spare time for fun? What new activities would you like to try in college? What do you like and dislike about your current school in terms of its size, how its run, etc. Do you feel more comfortable in a city or out in the country? Do you want to be within driving distance of home or is farther away OK? How do you feel about cold weather, hot weather, wet weather? Are there certain parts of the country that you've always been curious about? Others that you would never want to live in? All of these questions can help you start thinking about what type of college you may be looking for. Towards the end of the year, get a hold of a college guide (The Fiske Guide is a good one) and start reading descriptions of various colleges - see which ones "sound like you."</p>
<p>I'd also suggest that now is a good time to sit down with your parents and have a serious talk about finances and college. The average cost of attending a private college is about $32,000 a year, more in many parts of the country. Public schools in your state will be much cheaper. Ask your parents for some direction about how much they think they can afford and start learning about financial aid and scholarship options now if money is going to be an issue.</p>