I am graduating going to college Fall 09, but i kind of need some help?

Question

1. Do i apply for college now (as in today) or wait till september?

2. When do i apply for finicial aids and grants? before i apply to college or after

3. Can i not send them my act score since im retaking it. ( I got a 20)

4. How many times can you apply to the same college??

Anything xtra you want to add??

Answer 1

first, i would like to chastise your guidance counselor- why havent they gone over these things with you? you cant wait until september to apply for the fall semester; in fact it is now too late to apply for the fall pretty much anywhere. you would have had to applied for both financial aid and acceptance to the school in the winter. you can apply to most colleges as many times as you want. i would suggest you start applying for spring at the schools you want to attend; i doubt you will find any with a cutoff this late. im sorry your high school didnt help you out here; they really shouldve gone over all of this with you! another thing you can do is attend community college (their cutoffs are usually late, or rolling admissions) in the fall, then apply for spring at a more prestigious school. when are you going to take the ACTs again? i think this years tests are over. good luck to you!

Answer 2

Hey, I am sorry to hear your counselor hasn't told you about all this, but my counselor sucked too, so here are a few of the things I have learned over the years:

1. If you know what schools you may want to attend, go ahead and start applying to them if they allow.  the sooner you start, the less time consuming and overwhelming it will be.

2. Financial aid, the FAFSA is due in March I think of 09 for your fall semester of 09.  You would put all the school you have applied to on this document, so that they all take you into consideration for grants and loans and other scholarships.  Start doing scholarships now, trust me...people will pay, if you have good grads and other stats (volunteer, work, etc). You have to ask though!  You apply for fin aid before you go to school. You need your parents tax info and your, if you work, for the FAFSA.

3.  Yea I would say to wait, but the school will take your highest score I believe, but check with the college. They will take the highest of your SAT scores as well.

4.  You can apply to a school as much as you desire, but the fees start adding up, so be selective in the amount of schools you apply to.  I did 5 and got into all of them.  I don't know your economic status, but lower ecos can get waivers and things of that nature.  Seek out community programs for assistance if your high school doesn't help.  

Answer 3

Check the website for the college you are applying.  Deadlines for applications are due (usually) in early January.  Apply to more than one, so you have a backup plan.  You can wait to have your new ACT score sent...You can apply once.  If you don't get in, go to a community college for a year or two, then apply as a transfer student.  You can begin search for financial aide now, apply this fall.  Talk to your counselor at school if you have further questions, or academic advisor at the college you are applying.  Good luck!  (college professor)