College admissions is competitive,

As someone who started as a commuter at a local state college, and then transferred 2400 miles away, I feel especially qualified for this question. The benefits of "going away" to college is that it forces you out of your comfort zone. You will need to find friends, perhaps adjust to weather changes, and learn to live without your parents right there to fix things for you. You will also experience a taste of freedom that isn't possible when you attend college close to home. You will leave college with friends from all over, whereas at a local school, most of your contacts will be residents of your state. The drawbacks are that going home will be limited, and you will probably be spending Thanksgiving with a new friend's family if winter break is just 3 weeks away. But this is how you make deep friendships, and the pluses far outweigh the minuses.

Begin your college search by having a conversation with yourself. What matters to you most: more choices in class titles, or a small class where I can raise my hand and ask a question? Do I need to attend sporting events in a huge stadium? Could I deal with a campus far from the city, or do I need to be able to go home frequently? Does weather matter to me? Do I have to attend a school that everyone knows, or am I open to lesser known schools? How far from home am I willing to be? How much financial aid will I need, and will I be eligible to apply for scholarships based or grades or talent? Once you've figured out some of these answers, you should begin with a good college search engine, such as the one here on the unigo site. Knowing yourself will help guide you to the best choices for your personal college list.

As more and more college put ads in magazines and on the internet, it can be confusing.Their viewbooks make them all sound so wonderful. Rankings can help you sort out which programs are considered the most selective and prestigious. However, are they always the right choice? And how do they choose who makes the top of the list? Many factors go into college rankings, including alumni donations and how other institutions preceive them. Take that into account when you start to think that school #1 must be much better than school #20. What the rankings can do is introduce you to great schools you may be unfamiliar with. So check out those rankings, but remember that you will find an excellent education up and down the list.

There are several books written just on the campus visit, but while it's difficult to answer this question in a few words, there are a few very important components of the visit you don't want to miss. First, be sure to ask questions that matter to you, but are not available in every brochure. You can always look up average class size, tuition and fees, what majors they offer, etc., but your tour most likely will be led by a current student, so ask about campus life from their perspective. If you are from a warm climate and you would be experiencing snow, ask them the most important items to get you through a real winter. Visit a classroom and pay attention to the students as well as the professor. Is it an atmosphere where they can ask questions, or does everyone just take notes and leave? Does that matter to you? Stop random students and ask questions that the tour guide might feel they have to answer positively and get a "real" answer. And most importantly, remember that this will be your home for the next four years, so look for what matters to you, not the guidebooks or even your parents. And whatever you do, don't silently follow your parent around while they ask all the questions! It's your college process, so take charge and make it yours.

The one negative thing about the common application if you represent a college is that it is common. You can apply to a dozen schools with just a few extra clicks. So they are left to wonder: is this student really interested in our campus, or did they just apply because it's easy? By adding supplemental questions, a school can ask the question "Why us?", which will let them know whether you are familiar with their campus and if you have put any real thought into applying. Take these supplements very seriously! It is how you will stand out from the others who decided to apply on a whim.

In a few years, this will be the only way you can apply! In fact, some state schools (such as California) have already done away with the paper application. To encourage you to apply online, many colleges and Universities will waive the application fee entirely. Online applications are superior in that you never have to reveal that your handwriting is sloppy, and you can use editing tools to doublecheck your writing for errors. Almost all of these applications will allow you to cut and paste essays and short answers that you have already carefully crafted in a spearate document. Just remember: once you launch that application, you can't take it back, so check it carefully and then check again to be confident that it is done correctly.

The common app, which can be found at www.commonapp.org, is one basic application that can be used to apply to hundreds of colleges accross the country. It allows a student to apply to a variety of schools without having to input the same basic information over and over. it also allows teachers and counselors to input letters of recommendation one time for all the schools without having to mail them separately. Many of these schools will also have a supplement portion, which will have either an extra essay (or two or three) and short answers to get more personalized information from you. Some of these supplements take nearly as long as the common application to complete, but this is not the norm. As more and more schools decide to use the common app, students are finding that they have the time to apply to a wider variety of schools, and having options to choose from can help students make a better decision about where to enroll.

The best teacher recommendations are written by teachers who understand and respect the student they are writing for. These teachers would have been given plenty of advance notice, and they have taught the student either in 11th or 12th grade in a core academic subject (or if this student is going for the arts, then a teacher in their area of expertise). I have a worksheet that I give students to fill out for their teacher, telling them what they would like the teacher to emphasize in the letter, and also what they valued most about the class that teacher taught. It should be clear when this letter is needed, and whether this letter is to be mailed (in which case you give them a pre-addressed and stamped envelope), or uploaded to the common application website. Sometimes a counselor at your school can guide you towards the best writers, or away from those who don't produce very convincing letters. Just remember, you are asking for a favor, so be respectful and polite and be sure to thank them later!

One of the problems with trying to compare financial aid awards is that there is no standard format. Sometimes awards appear to be bigger than they are, because of how the school calculates cost. Some schools will show "direct cost" as the total, which is tuition plus room and board only. Other schools use the term "Cost of Attendance" or "Total Cost". This will include estimates for books, travel, living expenses, etc., which is the true cost of enrolling. What you need to focus on when comparing awards is either recalculating all your colleges to direct cost or cost of attendance, so you can truly compare apples with apples.

The best answer would be at birth! While this is ideal, most of us weren't that together to get it done that early. College costs are going up every year, however, at a rate much faster than parental salaries. The best thing to do is to set up a dedicated account as early as possible that is for college costs only. Every state has its own 529 plan, and you can even use one from another state if it appears superior to your own. It might be worth investing in a meeting with a financial advisor to map out a plan for what you can afford to save. Also, keep your savings in your name (with the exception of the college savings plans). When financial aid offices are deciding how much a family can afford to pay, they are conscious of the fact that parents have many other fiscal responsibilities, while a student's money should be put in large part toward that child's education. All in all, saving for college is more about "how much" rather than "when".

Absolutely! First, it's important you know that many schools will waive the fee for anyone if they apply by a certain date (usually before their deadline), or if you apply online rather than using a paper application. You would be surprised how many schools do this, even on the common application. If you are from a low income family, however, you can get almost every application fee waived. The National Association of College Admisson Counseling (NACAC), has a form on its website that you can download and ask your school counselor to sign for you. I have never seen a private school reject a NACAC fee waiver, although state schools may have their own forms and methods for waiving fees. And lastly, some schools will waive fees for middle income students as well, if requested for a good reason. It can't hurt, so if you have a need to waive the fees, just ask.

The FAFSA can be completed even if parents do not have social security numbers, but it does involve an extra step. First, understand that permanent residents are treated the same as citizens when it comes to financial aid, so they will do exactly as the general instructions state. If, however, the parents are here on a Visa or even if they have no paperwork, the student, as a citizen or permanent resident, is eligible for all federal funds. If the parents do not have a social security number, fill in the portion of the form with all zeros. If you do not do so, you will not be able to continue. This means that while the student can get a pin number to electronically sign, the parent will need to print out the signature page and mail it in. Don't forget this important step, because until that signature is processed, your FAFSA will sit in limbo. So get started on the FAFSA, because that is the key to all financial aid.

This has happened many times with students I have worked with, and it can be very difficult if the CSS profile is required by the school. If the non-custodial parent cannot be found, the student needs to inform the college(s) as soon as possible. Oftentimes, high school officials who are familiar with the student's situation can write a letter to verify this. Colleges do expect you to make every effort to find this parent, but if it has been years with no contact, that just needs to be explained as soon as possible to the financial aid officers at the colleges.

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is used by almost all colleges to figure out how much help your family is eligible for to pay for college. Many upper middle income families are eligible for more aid than they think, since college costs have skyrocketed, so all students are strongly encouraged to apply. You can find the form at www.fafsa.ed.gov, and you can begin to complete it after January 1st of your senior year. Please be careful not to go to any .com websites!! They will charge as much as $85 to fill out a form that begins with the word "free". Another important fact for families to consider is that you cannot get federal loans for students or parents without this form. At the current interest rates, it might be better to borrow than to pull money out of accounts that are making money. So if you are interested in grants, loans, work study, or any other federal or even state financial aid programs, you must complete the FAFSA first!

Yes, please do! For one thing, it is surprising how even high income students can have "need", due to the cost of colleges these days. But even if that is not the issue, many parents may choose to take out low interest loans rather than pull money from investments that are doing well. In order to be eligible for any federally backed loan, you will need to complete the FAFSA. Also, some schools ask for the FAFSA to be completed even for merit scholarships. This will let them know if you are eligible for any other monies that you weren't aware of. True, the FAFSA isn't fun to complete, but it can be done in one sitting with your tax forms in hand. Ask you college if you should complete it, if you are still unsure. It could be worth money to you!

The FAFSA is to be completed by the custodial parent, and it needs to reflect the income of that household. It doesn't matter who claims the student on his or her taxes, it's about where he or she lives (in a joint custody situation, it is supposed to be the parent with whom the student lives 51% of the time). When a parent remarries, that person becomes a part of the household, and their income and assets matter. Even if you have decided that the stepparent is not responsible for college costs, the federal government does not agree. Leaving off stepparent information from the FAFSA is like lying on your tax forms. In fact, the college will surely ask for tax forms to back up the FAFSA information anyway, so there is really no way around it.

NO NO NO!!! Unless you have incredibly complicated tax returns that only accountants can complete, you should be able to complete the FAFSA yourself, or with some help from a college or high school counselor. Here in California, we have workshops called "Cash For College" that will have financial aid officers from colleges and universities on hand to help. Also, there is a toll free number on the FAFSA website where you can get live help, as well as all sorts of hints built into the form. Every year the FAFSA becomes more user friendly. Whatever you do, be sure you are on the federal website, which will ALWAYS end in .gov. Fafsa.com is a private company that will charge over $80 to fill out a form that is meant to be free. You shouldn't have to pay to complete a form asking for financial help.

Many private schools ask for both the FAFSA and the CSS profile, so how are they different? The FAFSA will ask only for the income and assets of the custodial parent, and the questions on assets will not include the primary residence. Also, the FAFSA cannot be started until after January 1st of the student's senior year. The CSS profile, however, seeks out different information. It can be completed as early as September of the student's senior year, and can be based on estimates from the earlier tax year. The profile will ask about the equity in the primary residence, as well as income and asset information from the non-custodial parent. While many may see this as a way to allow the colleges to award less money, they insist that it also can show ways in which a family is financially burdened that don't show up on the FAFSA, such as medical bills, private school tuition, or other expenses, and will allow them to lower the family contribution calculated by the FAFSA. You can find the CSS profile on the collegeboard website.

The FAFSA or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, has been reworked every year to try and make it more accessible to its users. Starting last year, you are able to link your parent tax data to your form, which means much fewer chances for you to make mistakes! This does require, however, that your taxes has already been filed. What you need to complete the form is the tax and asset information for the parent or parents that you live with. Many questions ask you for broad information, such as the total of your cash and savings. Since these figures can change quite a bit from week to week, use the figure that represents what you have right before payday, rather than after. Colleges expect parents to have savings and cash on hand for themselves, so don't feel panicky if you have to report what seems like a lot. It's your job to be honest. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov after January 1st of your senior year and get started now!

The best way to manage any expenses is to set a budget, so there are no surprises. Remember that your first year, you will have some one time expenses that you may not have again. Will you be buying appliances or other equipment for your dorm room? How about sheets for that odd extra-long twin bed? Towels? Containers for your bath supplies? A laptop? Any other comforts of home that you may need? Try to note what you are used to using at home, and find out from your college what is already provided. See where you can trim some costs, such as renting textbooks instead of buying them, or buying them online instead of the school bookstore. Also, although new stuff is great, you can probably get by on things from your parent's house, if they allow you to take them. And don't forget garage sales! They are a great way to pick up items that are new to you. The hardest thing to do is to decide what you can afford to spend, and stick to it. Live frugally for now, and you will be blessed with a much smaller debt load later.

I have helped many students work with their college of choice on the financial aid offer, but you must tread softly here. Colleges work to give a student the most they are eligible for, but sometimes more information can help a student qualify for more of either need-based aid or merit aid. Schools do not respond well to comments about how another school has given a better offer and you want them to match it. All schools are not equal, and resources are definitely not the same. Still, there are times when a student can advocate for themselves by letting a school know that this school is their first choice, and they really want to attend except they are worried about the price. If a school can offer more, they will work with you. Make sure your financial information is accurate and up to date. With the right attitude and a sympathetic financial aid officer, you may get what you need to attend.

Yes, depending on the school. Alumni interviews and interviews by students are usually what they call "informational". They may have little to no bearing on your acceptance. This can be a little depressing, considering you are on your best behavior and trying to impress your interviewer. (Admissions offices will tell you when an interview is "evaluative", and it will be with a staff member of the Admissions Office). Could you really "blow" an interview by a student or an alum? Well yes, if your behavior is so exceptionally awful that they send a very negative report that could reflect badly on you. What really matters is that you have a chance to ask someone who really knows the campus all kinds of questions, and decide if the school is right for you. Remember, the college process is YOUR process, and you have more control over your own happiness than you may think.

There are a few things that could really turn off an interviewer, and most of them have to do with you saying things that offend or scare him or her. Avoid religious discussions unless you are applying to a religious school. Avoid politics also, because here's another place where you can easily offend. Also, don't ask an interviewer to compare their school to another, as in "Are you a better school that XYZ for pre-med?". And most importantly, don't use the interview to confess your deepest secrets or to share that you have recently tried to take your own life or that you just recently left rehab. While these things may have been a major influence on your life, they are something that should be shared with a medical professional, not some college interviewer. Talk about who you are, but spare the gory details.

The best interviews are conversations between two people who enjoy talking to each other. You need to give answers that include lots of details, but not so many that it is more like a long rambling essay. The best interviews involve you asking questions, too, and being genuinely interested in the answers. You will look happy to be there. You will lean slightly forward in your chair and you will not lean back with your arms folded as if you are protecting yourself from the interviewer. So you need to do a little homework, which will give you things to talk about. A period of silence of more than a few seconds will feel uncomfortable and tense. Also, be careful to not blurt out everything about yourself that doesn't really need telling. An interview in a local Starbucks is not the proper setting for talking about how you were molested as a child or that you sometimes cut yourself. Deal with these issues with a psychologist, not your interviewer. Be yourself, but please, your best self on a good day. That's who they want to meet.

This just sounds a little on the weird side. The main problem is that it sounds gimmicky, and finding the best college for you is too important to treat like a game show. I would stay far away from this kind of thing. It could really turn off your interviewer.

There are many careers that involve the arts that do more than create objects or beautiful music. Opera houses need directors, concert halls need people to schedule them and raise funds for their events, and they are myriad jobs in managing artists. Someone with a background in the arts will have a better understanding of an artist's needs. But one does not need to limit themselves to the arts! There are plenty of leaders in business that have college degrees in unexpected subjects. A college degree means that you are trainable, and you were able to handle the general requirements as well as your major. Follow your interests, wherever they may lead you.

Congratulations! You now have the ball in your court, and you get to be the one who decides whether you will attend or not. if this is going to be your home for the next 4 years, then you need to be sure that it has what you need. The least important things are what your freshman dorm room looks like or whether the school offers round the clock excitement (which could be distracting!) What really matters is the people you will be living with, the accessibility of the professors if you are confused about something in class, and whether you will be comfortable with the classroom sizes and the overall "feel" of the campus. Trust your instincts, but don't expect that everything will be perfect. Just know what you need to be happy, and choose among your schools for the one that can do that the best. And don't panic! If you make a truly horrible choice, there's always the option of transferring.

Colleges absolutely do revoke admissions, and I've seen it happen too many times. These revocations are completely avoidable, however, and it's not difficult for students to do. The number one reason for students losing their place in the freshman class is a change in either senior classload or grades. If you applied as an "A" student, you can't slide through senior year with "C's", or by dropping all your AP classes.

Your behavior also matters. This is not the year to get suspended from school for misbehavior. Follow the rules, keep your grades at approximately the same level as when you were accepted, and be sure to make all deadlines for deposits, orientation, registration, and whatever else the school has requested you to do. If you are doing these things, then relax, you'll be fine.

Transferring schools can be complicated or easy, depending on what you want. Are you interested in transferring from a community college to your state college? You will proabably find loads of help on your community college campus for this transfer. What matters is whether you are transferring from a CC or a 4 year institution, and whether you are doing it after 1 semester, 1 year, or two years. The fewer college units you have, the more important your high school record and SAT/ACT scores will be. The most important thing you can do to help make this happen is to have the best grades you can possibly have at whatever institution you are now attending. This may be hard, if you are unhappy, but colleges are looking for successful students to take in, not those who did poorly. There is so much more to tell you, but I suggest you meet with a counselor who understands the transfer process to discuss your personal situation. Find help here, or discuss it with a counselor at your school.

Students tend to focus on the "how many" question when it comes to college applications, when what they really should think about is "Do I love this school? Would I attend if I got in?". Too many students choose "safeties" that they would never attend. A good rule of thumb is to apply to 2 or at the most 3 schools that tend to accept students with stronger credentials than yours, 2 or 3 where you are smack in the middle of their acceptance numbers, and another 2 where you would be considered a top student. You can only attend one school, so that is more than enough applications to suffer through. Just be sure that all your choices are schools where you would be happy.