<p>If you are going to need merit scholarships, then you’ll really need to do very well on your SAT or ACT (take both).</p>
<p>* Let’s just say my goal is to get 1800*</p>
<p>You’ll need to do significantly better than that to have a chance at some good merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Look at various schools’ score ranges. At the schools that do give good merit scholarships, your test scores will need to be in about the top 5-10% for the school.</p>
<p>Since you’re in Calif and prefer Calif schools, that will limit your choices for merit scholarship opportuniites. </p>
<p>Be sure to protect yourself and also apply to a couple of schools that you know for sure that you’ll get accepted to and that will be affordable. If there are some CSU’s that you can commute to, be sure to apply to those as well. </p>
<p>Get some study books for the SAT and ACT…and practice! When will you be testing?</p>