Know How to Play the Game

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Know How to Play the Game

• An article in Money magazine reported that
• 65 of all private schools 27 of all public
  universities
• now figure out how little aid they need to award
  to a student before he or she decides to enroll
  in a less-expensive school (called financial
  leveraging ).
• You have to know how to play their game.

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More Tips on Financial Aid

• Those who get the most aid are those who
  understand the process, not those with the
  greatest need.
• Sometimes the students whose families make
  35,000 per year, rent, and have no assets get a
  better financial aid package from an expensive
  private school than they do from a state school.
• Do not pay for an award search programmost are
  scams.

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Sources for Scholarships

• Minority status. This includes not only race or
  ethnicity, but also gender.
• Location. Scholarships for people living in your
  community.
• Citizenship. Any scholarships only open to U.S.
  residents or citizens.
• Extracurricular activities. The more involved you
  are, the more scholarship opportunities.
• Academic improvement/excellence.
• Area of study. For a particular field.

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Sources for Scholarshipscontinued

• Excellence in sports.
• Excellence in other areas. Music, art, drama,
  and so on.
• Private agencies.
• Foundations.
• Corporations.
• Clubs.
• Fraternal and service organizations.

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Sources for Scholarshipscontinued

• Civic associations.
• Unions.
• Religious groups.
• Employers. Some employers provide tuition
  reimbursement benefits for employees and/or the
  children of employees.
• In-course or faculty scholarships.

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The ACT

• What The ACT Assessment is designed to test a
  students educational development and college
  competence in four areas math, reading, science,
  and English.
• Grading system The highest possible score on the
  test is a 36.
• Who accepts the test The ACT is accepted by most
  U.S. universities and colleges, but most widely
  used in the Midwestern states. The score can be
  converted into an SAT score.
• When to take the test Best if taken spring of
  your junior year or early senior year.

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The SAT

• What Scholastic Aptitude Test a test designed
  to determine your academic performance. Used by
  colleges universities as an admission standard.
• Additional exam The SAT II Subject Tests show
  more about your academic background. These tests
  are not required by all schools.
• Grading system The highest possible score is
  1600. It is divided into two categories, math and
  verbal, so you will get an overall score and a
  score for each category.

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The SATcontinued

• Who accepts the test Most universities on the
  East and West coasts. Schools can convert the SAT
  score to an approximate ACT score. If all but one
  of the schools you apply to require the SAT, take
  it. Then see whether the one requiring the ACT
  will convert your SAT score.
• When to take the test It is best to take the
  test spring of junior year or the very beginning
  of senior year. This way you have time to retake
  it if you dont score as well as you expected.

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Other Entrance Exams

• ABLE Adult Basic Learning Examination
• ACT ASSET ACT Assessment of Skills for
  Successful Entry/Transfer
• CAT California Achievement Test
• CELT Comprehensive English Language Test
• PAA Prueba de Aptitude Academica(Spanish-languag
  e version of the SAT I)
• PSAT Preliminary SAT
• SCAT Scholastic College Aptitude Test
• TABE Test of Adult Basic Education
• TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language
  (for international students whose native
  language is not English)

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To Find Out More About Required Entrance Exams

• Contact the school you plan to attend
• Visit your guidance counselor
• Check out the library