Consejos para encontrar universidades asequibles

Visiting a school is always a great way to learn more about it and consider whether the campus is a good fit for you. But sometimes—because of costs, time restraints, or travel logistics—visiting in person may not be possible.

When it comes to goals, former college football player and coach Tony DeMeo says, “You get what you set.”

Successful people like Coach DeMeo know that, in order to succeed — in sports, in college, in life — you need to set goals. With goals, you take control of your life. Without them, you lack focus and direction.

As a college student looking to transfer, you probably have some questions about financial aid. Well, we’ve got some answers!

Here are some commonly asked questions and answers about financial aid for transfer students:

The Coalition for College is proud to support transfer students like you as you continue your college journey. In fact, we’re committed to increasing access to higher education — and to helping make college a reality for all students.

Throughout your high school career, you will be aiming for college. And as one step toward that goal, we think you should consider scheduling your first college tour.

“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!