<p>I could have sworn I've asked before but I can't find it!</p>
<p>1) When do you usually send applications? If my guess is right, it is around mid-January. So if you send it before that, you won't have your first semester Sr. grades on your report to be considered? And you'd need to take SAT in your Jr. year?</p>
<p>2) If your income is over 75,000 is there any point to filling out a FAFSA?</p>
<p>3) Are Interviews really neccessary? Is it possible that you'd lower yourself by going to one (say maybe you suck at interviews)?</p>
<p>1) Applications for regular admission are usually due sometime in January. Many colleges require a mid-year report with 1st semester senior grades to be sent when available, and this report is considered in the admissions process.</p>
<p>2) yes -- especially if you have a large family. The FAFSA is sometimes require for merit scholarships. </p>
<p>3) No, but if a school strongly encourages one, it may hurt if you live near campus and do not visit. You should check individual college's websites for this. For the most part, interviews are not necessary except at the most selective schools, although many small liberal arts colleges encourage them so the student can see if the school is a good fit.</p>
<p>(I'm not a parent, but I'm a senior who just finished the process)</p>
<p>There was a database hiccup about a week ago, so the system could have swallowed your thread.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You send your apps in as soon as you've determined which schools you wish to apply to and you've completed the apps to your satisfaction. EA and ED schools are due before RD. Rolling schools are submitted up to 18 months before enrollment. That said, it always pays to start early in order to give yourself plenty of time to do a good job, reduce stress, and be early in the queue. Also, if you wait unitl the last minute, the college application workload will start to interfer with your class work and make your senior year quite miserable. Also, I'd start taking the SATs at least by the spring of your Junior year.</p></li>
<li><p>No matter what your family income is, always file a FAFSA. So many items are taken into account, you might still come up a winner. People with higher incomes have gotten money; people with lower incomes have not. It all depends. FAFSA is required for all federal grants, loans, etc. Again, when it comes to finaid, start early and dig, dig, dig. Look for money on the outside as well. Not just the big money at sites like fastweb (where the really competitive kids go to shop), but at your high school and local business and community group websites). The money does add up.</p></li>
<li><p>Interviews...it depends on the school. If you're not comfortable going, then find a school that doesn't require them. My son is a quiet kind of fellow. His abilities are above avg, has some ADD, great athlete, solid GPA, great ECs, got in his safety and a nice LAC, both with nice merit money...and no interview...suited him just fine.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Remember in this process, you're in charge. It all depends on what you're looking for. Just try not to drive yourself crazy. There are a lot of really wonderful colleges and universities out there that can give you a fine education. Just make sure it's a good fit and that you will be happy there. Find a place that will bring out the best in you, whatever that is. Remember that you're picking this place for you, not for the name recognition. Follow your heart. Good luck!</p>
<p>Look at Loren Pope's book Colleges That Change Lives (new version out this July), and the website Collegesofdistinction.com.</p>
<p>THANKS YOU GUYS!!</p>
<p>When should you start filling out the FAFSA and turn it in? And do you have to fill it out every year? I've been totally ignoring it because I thought "My parents make too much money for me to be "In need"." I'm so glad I asked or I may have missed something!!</p>
<p>FYI, I am a junior right now. I already decided that I like UofTulsa, SMU, and UTD will be my safety. My grades this semester were mostly Cs and I'm so mad so I wanted to make sure I still had 2 other semesters to make it up! I was afraid my first semester of Sr. year wouldn't count and I'd have to send my APP at the last minute. So here's the question (hah) If you apply Early Desicion, do they still ask to see Sr. 1st semester grades and put it into consideration? I was told before all these Cs happened that I really could get into UofTulsa, but now I do not know and I'm scared to apply early!</p>
<p>Apps to rolling admissions schools can go in as early as September. At rolling admissions schools, the longer you wait to apply, the lower your chance of admission.Not all schools require first semester grades before accepting you. Many schools have a Jan 1 or Jan 15 deadline. Given that your app requires the actions of teachers anbd your GC, plan to submit non-rolling in mid-December. You will follow up later with first term grades.
Some schools have an earlier deadline date if you want to be consdiered for merit scholarships. Two that come to mind are UMich and Rutgers.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Regarding the FAFSA, get a copy of either the paper version or the online version of the worksheet, so you and your parents can begin to gather together the info you'll need to complete the FAFSA. By late fall the real version for the following college year will become available. Processing of the online version is much faster, so most people opt to use it (<a href="http://www.fafsa.ed.gov)%5B/url%5D">www.fafsa.ed.gov)</a>. You cannot file you FAFSA online until January 1 of the year that you will enter college. Note: Both you and at least one of your parents will need to apply for a "pin" number that you will use to electronically sign your online FAFSA submission. Do obtain those in advance of January 1 so you'll be ready to file.</p></li>
<li><p>Regarding applications. Be sure the colleges you have picked are now reasonable matches for you. Because of your deteriorating grades, I think I would contact someone in the admissions office, explain you situation, your newfound awareness and recommitment to improved study habits and grades. Solicit their advice about how to handle the application process. Don't have your inquiry come across as phony or glib. Be sincere and tell them why that school is the one for you. A sharp drop in grades such as yours can very easily be read as a lack of maturity and readiness for college-level work. You now need to convince them that you have seen your errors and will NEVER let them happen again. Tell the adcom that you feel blessed that you made these terrible mistakes in high school rather than in the freshman year in college where so many young people do. Then work your ever lovin' tail off to pull those grades up.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The colleges will definitely want mid-year reports. I think ED and EA would be a tough sell with C's. Rolling is your best bet. Try to get a safety school in your pocket first. It will remove a lot of the anxiety you're currently feeling. Again, I'd really ask the admissions rep for help, and put it out there that you think you screwed up and you really need their help in figuring out a way to work your way back. Adcom people can be particularly helpful, if you get them on your side. Colleges like to help young people who have turned their lives around. But remember, only you can make that happen. From this point on, you must be consistent, consistent, consistent. No excuses. None!</p>
<p>My best advice to you...call now...ask the adcom's advice...touch base with the same person at the college and let them know how you're doing, so they know that you're really taking their advice seriously and that you're worth taking a chance on.</p>
<p>Good luck...let us know how you're doing.</p>
<p>Also...look at those two books I mentioned. Often the colleges in those books cut some slack for kids like you. A number of them take great pride in taking underperforming, but bright, young people who are a bit lost and making them into the great people they know they can be.</p>
<p>Get going!! All is not lost!! And fear can be a great motivator!!</p>
<p>Aw, thankyou for the encouragement! Sp on the FAFSA website it has the worksheet for 2006-2007. That's the one for me, isn't?</p>
<p>Calling the colleges sounds like a good idea, but first I need to talk to my dad to see if he has any suggestions for me to add to my picks. And wouldn't it sound kind of bad to call two schools like that and then not go to one of them (if I get accepted)? My safety is UTD(university of texas in dallas) because out of all the public schools, this one seems best for me, though I don't think I'm nearly as familiar with it as I am with Univeristy of Tulsa, my first choice. It was really hard to pick a safety because there is SO MUCH HYPE for schools like Texas Tech or A&M... People are even choosing these schools as their first picks and I learned they have different goals and interests than me.</p>
<p>Quitejaded,
No, the current FAFSA is NOT for you. You will need to do the FAFSA dated for your college freshman year--2007-2008!</p>
<p>You will need to fill out the FAFsa in Jan 2007.</p>
<p>Many colleges have an application deadline of December, so it is dangerous to generalize that apps are due in the middle of January. Be sure to note the deadline of all colleges that you want to apply to.</p>
<p>As for interviews, many colleges have alumni interviewers in your area and so you don't have to travel to the college to interview. The value of interviews for admissions purposes is mixed--at some schools, they are very important. At other schools, they have little effect.</p>
<p>As for SAT testing, most juniors take at least one try at the SAT 1 in their junior year (May or June). Also, most juniors take a couple of SAT 2s (May or June)--US history is a popular one, since most juniors have to take US history in their junior year. </p>
<p>That way, you can retake the SAT 1 in the fall of your senior year if you weren't happy with your result and can take another SAT 2 in your senior year if needed.</p>
<p>Plus getting your SAT 1 result can give you a first cut as to which colleges are in your ballpark for admissions.</p>