“I don’t know how to write about myself.”

“I don’t have any good stories to tell.”

“I don’t know how to answer this question.”

Have you found yourself thinking one — or all — of these statements about your college essays? You’re not alone.

In high school, you may occasionally find yourself falling behind in some of your classes. Maybe the teacher is moving too fast, or the work is harder than you expected. Or maybe something’s going on at home that makes studying difficult. Whatever the reason, it’s important to know that there are many free resources available for extra help.

When do I apply to college? Good question!

Simply put: You’ll apply to colleges in 12th grade, and it’s a good idea to be ready to apply by Nov. 1 of your senior year. 

A resume is a summary of your academic and personal experiences, including before- and after-school activities, volunteer work, and/or jobs. Most colleges and employers want to see your resume when they’re considering whether or not to admit or hire you.

When you’re applying to colleges, you’ll be asked to provide official documents, such as your high school transcript (a listing of your classes and grades) and SAT or ACT scores (if required).

You might also be asked for letters of recommendation – and you may be wondering what those are and why you need them. Well, we’re here to tell you everything you need to know!

By now, with freshman year behind you, you’ve likely experienced a lot of different extracurricular activities, such as school and/or personal activities, work experiences, and family responsibilities.

Most of your day is spent in school, taking classes and learning new things. But what do you do when the final bell rings and the school day is done?

There are tons of opportunities for you to get involved in extracurricular activities — at school, on your own, in your community — and we encourage you to try out as many as you can!

In high school, you’ll likely take classes in the five core subject areas: English, math, science, history/social sciences, and a language other than English. 

You may not be required to take a class in each of these areas in every grade, but we strongly recommend that you do. Why? That’s what most college admissions officers are looking for — and it’s what shows them you’re ready for what’s to come in college.

From grants and scholarships to FAFSA and federal student aid, there’s a lot for you to know about financial aid. That’s why we’ve compiled an alphabetical list of the most frequently used financial aid terms— check it out below!

Did you know? More than 75 percent of students get help paying for college.

In fact, over 13 million students receive more than $120 billion in federal student aid each year — and that’s just from the federal government! Students like you may also be eligible for financial aid from states, colleges, and/or private organizations.

We at the Coalition believe in the value of a college education: Research shows that students with a four-year bachelor’s degree earn an average of $1.3 million more than those with only a high school diploma. But we also realize that the cost to attend college can seem very high.

So, let’s talk about calculating the cost of your college education.

As you begin researching your college options, you might find yourself asking: How can I possibly pay for college?

We’re glad you asked (and you will be too)!

First things first: You’re not alone. Almost every student wonders how they’ll be able to afford college. But you may not realize that most students — more than 75 percent of them — get help paying for it.

U.S. Marines veteran Jordan Petersen is pursuing a neuroscience degree at Coalition member Pomona College. He hopes to one day become a doctor and help veterans living with PTSD and brain injuries. Petersen’s story sheds light on not only the value of a college education to veterans, but also the value of veterans to their colleges and their communities.

It’s one thing to research and read all about the schools you’re considering. But a great way to know if those colleges are a good fit for you is to visit them!

On a college campus tour, you can experience firsthand where you might live, study, sleep, eat, and socialize. That’s why we highly recommend you grab your parents or someone that is supporting you in your college visit search, gas up the car, and hit the road!

As a high school student, you are all too familiar with deadlines: essay due Jan. 15, lab report due Feb. 2, final project due April 30. These are firm dates when you submit your materials and — phew! —you’re done.

No idea what you want to pursue in college? Have so many interests you can’t pick just one? Don’t worry, there are colleges where “undecided” is the most popular major among first-year students!

There are plenty of colleges where you can be undecided or undeclared upon admission. Typically, you will take core classes that allow you to explore various subjects and see which ones spark your interests. Often it is not until the end of your sophomore year that you’ll need to decide on a major. You will have plenty of time to figure out who you really are and what you really want.

Never has it been more difficult to predict what life will be like in 20 years, or what careers will be in demand in the future. Careers we haven’t even thought of yet will emerge, and old careers will be transformed.

You do not need a very specific education for a particular job that may or may not exist or be in demand in 10 or 20 years. You need instead an education that empowers you for success and allows you to design your own future in our rapidly changing society and economy.

People often ask me about the value of the application essay. “You don’t actually read all of them, do you?” I assure you, at my university and in admissions offices across the country, we do.

I can tell a lot about a person from his or her application essay; it’s the most current snapshot of who you are as a person. Think about it: Most of the items you submit to the colleges or universities you’re applying to showcase talents that you have developed over a long period of time. Your high school transcript contains at least three years of grades, showing evidence of hard work in a variety of subjects. Your clubs, organizations, sports, community service, and other accomplishments reflect years of participation and dedication to fields outside the classroom. Even your good old SAT or ACT scores reflect the accumulation of vocabulary, mathematics, and reading comprehension talents acquired throughout your life. The essay, however, is who you are right now. So, why not get started . . . right now?

We know that writing your essays can seem especially daunting when applying to college. But the essays are a great opportunity to add depth to something that is important to you and address a topic you’re not able to cover elsewhere in your application.

The essays reveal how you learn, what you value, or how you approach challenges, which helps the admissions committee imagine how you might approach the living and learning environment at their school.

As you probably know, college application fees can really add up. In fact, the average application fee is currently $50 — and some schools can charge as much as $90. Multiply that by 6-10 schools, and you’re looking at hundreds of dollars just to apply.

Good thing we’re here!