Applying to college. It seems like the most difficult process in the world. How many should I apply to? Private or public? Big or small school? Should I apply if I cannot afford it? Can I apply out of state? I don’t think my SAT/ACT score us high enough for me to get in? Will this school be the right “fit” for me?

So I would like to address what seem to be the three biggest concerns for students applying to colleges today:

How many should I apply to?

How big of a role should cost play in determining where to apply?

What if the school is considered a “reach” school for me?

Number one. Apply to as many schools as possible, without going overboard. It never hurts to apply to a school; the worst that can happen is rejection. That being said, you should not apply to schools just for the sake of doing so. If you have no interest in a particular school do not send in an application simply because you received a pamphlet from them in the mail – this is a waste of your time, as well as theirs. Since the Common Application has become standard for many schools this may be tempting, but it is not a good idea. coque samsung a7 Instead do some research on the colleges you are interested in, and if it is possible for you take a tour of the school then do it! This should help you narrow down your choices, but there is no magic number. If application fees are limiting the number of schools you are applying to be sure to check and see if you qualify to have fees waived. Though if they are adding up because of the sheer number of schools you are applying to, maybe you should pare down your list.

Number two. Money is definitely an important factor to consider when choosing which schools to apply to. coque huawei p10 While there are plenty of scholarships and student loans available, it is best for you to stick within a price range that you and your parents have agreed upon. This question addresses the private v. public debate. coque huawei p20 Often private schools have large endowments with more scholarships to offer, but these opportunities are generally accompanied by higher tuition costs. This also answers the big v. coque huawei p10 small school question, albeit in a roundabout way. Private schools are generally smaller than public schools, so the two questions are intertwined. If you are concerned about cost deterring you from out of state schools, you should revisit the public v. coque samsung a5 private debate. In this case a private out of state school may end up being a cheaper alternative because of the scholarship availability. coque autres huawei You will not know the final cost of schools (including scholarship money) until after acceptance, so this should not be the foremost factor when choosing where to apply. Just be sure to apply to schools that are within reason.

Number three. You think the school is going to be too hard to get into? Apply. If you are worried that your GPA/SAT/ACT scores are not high enough, then be sure to bolster your application with extra curricular activities and write a strong essay. Do not let preconceptions of the typical student that a school will accept deter you from applying. If the worst does happen and the school does not accept you, then you should still have many viable options if you took the advice in “Number one.