Does it matter if I use the Common App or the Coalition App? Which one should I fill out?
The short answer to this is no, colleges look at them in the same way! Generally speaking, there are more colleges on the Common App than the Coalition, however not all schools are on one application platform, so you should use the application that the majority of your colleges use. See what colleges use the Common App and what colleges use the Coalition App. 

Who and when should I ask for my letters of recommendation?
You should be asking for letters of recommendation now so that your teachers have time to write them. Most colleges require at least two letters of recommendation and will specify if they need to come from a specific person (e.g. a teacher in a core subject). The key to asking for a recommendation is to ask a teacher who knows you well both in the classroom and as a person. Here is a useful guide for asking for letters of recommendation.

Should I retake the ACT or SAT?
That will largely depend on the schools you are looking at or want to go to, and if you feel like you can do better than you did. If there is one section that you did especially poorly on compared to the other sections or you felt there was something that prevented you from doing your best, it is a good idea to retake it. However, it is also important to remember that you should STUDY before the next one to ensure your score will actually go up. If you need help studying, Khan Academy offers a great free SAT study course!

Can I get application fee waivers?
YES! Both the Common App and the Coalition Application have a question about fee waivers built in to the application. There are MANY ways to qualify for fee waivers (the most common are qualifying for SAT/ACT waivers and free/reduced lunch) so make sure to read that question. If you qualify for a fee waiver, you can apply to as many schools as you would like using those applications for FREE! 

**note: Some state based systems only grant a certain number of fee-waivers. For example, the UC and CSU systems will give you up to 4 fee waivers each.

How do I even start the college essay? 
Brainstorm!! Look at the different prompts and write down a couple ideas for each one. Then go through, and try to flush out some more of the ideas. I have always found the one that comes most naturally to you, ends up sounding the most like you. Check out this college essay guide that has brainstorming tips!

How do I make my application/essay stand out?
BE YOU!! The most important thing is that your essay/application needs to sound like you and give the admissions officers more information about who you are as a person and your context. There are a lot of different ways to do this but the most important thing is that you are true to who you are and don't write things you think the admissions office wants to hear.

College Application Organizer
Story2
Story2 Guide to The Common App
JLV College Counseling
College Greenlight
 

• Cost of Attendance (COA): tuition + room and board + other expenses
   
• Direct Costs: these are college related costs that will be billed to you from the school and you are expected to pay in order to attend. Direct costs are things like tuition, fees and room and board (housing + meal plan)
   
• Indirect Costs: these are college-related expenses that are NOT billed to you, but you should plan for. Many colleges will estimate this on your award letter, but it can vary based on your needs. Indirect costs include: books, travel costs, toiletries, etc.
   
• Expected Family Contribution (EFC): this is the amount of money the school estimates you and/or your family can contribute to the Cost of Attendance. This number is determined by your FAFSA information.
   
• Federal Work Study: this is money you are able to earn by working on the school's campus. The federal government provides the funds and the school provides you the opportunity to work. This money does not need to be paid back and you will likely get your money in the form of a paycheck (just like you would at a regular job). You can use this money to buy books or those "other expenses/indirect costs" that come up. 
   
• Federal Pell Grant: money the government gives to students who need it in order to help pay for college. This does not need to be paid back.
   
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): this is a federal grant awarded to students with exceptional financial need. Not all schools participate. This money does not need to be paid back.
   
• Federal Stafford Loan (sometimes called Federal Direct Loan) SUBSIDIZED: these loans are offered to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of college. Subsidized loans do not collect interest while you're in school. If you have to take out loans, these are the best option.
   
• Federal Stafford Loan (sometimes called Federal Direct Loan) UNSUBSIDIZED: these loans are also offered to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but the student does not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the loan. Unsubsidized loans collect interest from the moment they are disbursed to your student account. You want to avoid these if you can, but they are a much better option than private loans!
   
• Parent PLUS Loan: this is a federal student loan that is offered to your parents to help you pay for school. The interest rate on Parent PLUS loans is higher than Federal Stafford Loans (about 7.6%). In order for your parent to receive this loan, they would have to submit a credit check. Therefore, this loan is not guaranteed to be awarded. Your parent would have to submit a credit check every year that you're in school to be eligible. So, even if they were awarded the loan your freshman year, it is NOT guaranteed for your sophomore year. Your parent would be responsible for paying back these loans. You should avoid these loans if at all possible!

Can I submit FAFSA and CSS Profile before I complete applications, or should I send it later? 
Go ahead and submit the FAFSA now! Colleges will hold all materials until they have everything from you. I recommend completing the FAFSA by the end of October to ensure that you're meeting all priority financial aid deadlines (many which are in November or December). 

What application year am I filling out? 
You are filling out the 2020-2021 application, and you will need your 2018 tax information to do so. FAFSA switched to using prior-prior year tax information to ensure that more people had filed taxes and could use the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).

Do I have to sign up for selective service?
All men ages 18-25 are required to register for Selective Service. It is a requirement for receiving financial aid. Women are not required to register.

If I'm in dual enrollment/college classes as a high school student, do I mark "never attended college - 1st year" or "attended college before - 1st year" for my grade level?
Mark the first option: "never attended college - 1st year." According to federal financial aid definitions, you are not considered a full-time college student and eligible for financial aid until after you receive your high school diploma/GED. The only situation where you would mark "attended college before" is if you graduated high school early.

Does it matter what order I list my colleges?
Colleges will not see what order you list them on the FAFSA; however, the US Department of Education state: "For purposes of federal student aid, it does not matter in what order you list the schools. However, to be considered for state aid, several states require you to list a state school first. Therefore, if you plan to list a state school in your state of residence as one of the schools in this section, you might want to list it first." Therefore, you should list your home state colleges first and any colleges you think have early financial aid deadlines afterwards.

The FAFSA only allows you to list 10 colleges, but what if I'm applying to more than 10?
You will list the colleges in the order stated above, submit the FAFSA with the first 10 schools. Then when you receive the confirmation email saying your FAFSA was processed successfully (3-5 days after), you can log back in to "make a correction," revise the college section and resubmit.

Can log back in and fix something on my FAFSA after I submitted?
Yes! You can always log back in and "make a correction," but remember that if you submitted to more than 10 schools you will have to do that process twice.

What do I do if my financial situation has changed since 2018
For any major changes since your parents last filed taxes - whether it's losing a job, retiring, marriage, separation, divorce, having a baby, etc. - you will still have to file the FAFSA using 2018 tax information and then immediately contact your colleges (preferably by email) to explain the changed circumstances. Colleges might ask for additional information or documents to verify that change, and then they will take your current situation into consideration to give you a more accurate financial aid package.

What Is An Award Letter?
The financial aid award letter is a very important document that provides an overview of exactly how much you will have to pay to attend each college you're accepted to. This letter may come via email, snail mail, or most likely, your student portal. Be sure you're consistently checking these places so you can stay on top of any college communication! You can see an example award letter below.

Award Letters Can Be Tricky!
Unfortunately, not all award letters look the same... and different schools may use different words to describe the same thing. These differences make comparing awards tricky. However, it's necessary that you wait until you have ALL of your award letters before you make a decision or commit to a school!

Your high school adviser is trained to help break down award letters so that you and your family can compare them side-by-side. They will help you and your family see exactly which school is offering the best aid package and how much you will have to pay out of pocket for each (if anything). However, if you cannot connect with them then stop by Bronx Excellence 1 Middle School and we will help you. Our job is to make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.