Hey! Okay, I'm going into my junior year of highschool and I am so worried about college. I have tried talking to my conselour, but she always thinks I'm asking something else and therefore doesn't do me much good, so I was hoping, since alot of people on here seem like they are in college or have been in college, that you could help me out here! :)

Okay, here are all my many questions:

First of all, how exactly do you get an application for a college? What does the application say exactly? (Like what does it ask?) Also do you have to write an essay with your application? When do you apply for college anyways? (like in the beginning of your senior year?)

Do you say you need financial aid when you send in your application? How do you apply early? If you do apply early and get accepted, then do you have to go to that college? (Can you apply early to more than one college then?)

I also am wondering about the interviews and all that. I mean do you have to go through an interview to get accepted? I'm so confused about that- do you just send in your application or must you have an interview and have your application accepted? If the college is very far away how do you go to the interview?


Those are all my questions (for now, I may just have to ask more! Sorry, but this whole college thing has me worried and confused), so please help me out here! I'm just so lost! :) Thank you so much!

Okay, first of all settle down, most of the answers to your questions will come naturally when you start shopping around. I can definately answer some of your questions. You should be looking for colleges in your junior year, so you can apply during your senior year. The applications basically include personal information, grade information, and SAT/ACT information,since you're from Minnesota, ACT is the one you'll probably need, also they'll probably ask for your major (but no need to worry if you're undecided, most college freshman are)

You can obtain an application many ways, I'm sure in your councilors office she has a number of applications and if you can't get them from there, then you can probably get one from the school's website.

As far as financial aid, once you choose a school, go ahead and give them a call based on financial aid, and I'm sure they'll even have some good scholarship information for you. Pretty much any school you apply for will have no problem helping you with your questions, because most college students have the same questions.

You can apply to as many schools as you would like, then you can pick from the ones that accept you. An acceptance is basically just an "okay" to go to the school. I think that the acceptance letter will give you information on how to actually go to the school.

Oh and since you're from MN, may I suggest Winona State University, its where I go ;) although with any luck I'll be done by the time you'd get here.

Good luck with college hunting, its not as scary as it seems!

Whoa, hun, calm down! lol! It's REALLY not that scary, it honestly isn't. And like Halfway2Anywhere said, a lot of those questions will be answered for you once you start looking.

I'll answer all of them, though. I'm going to be a freshman in college this year.

1. You get applications for college in a few different ways. The easiest way would be to go online to each college's website; most of them have a way for you to either print it out or apply online. Each application is different; however, they all ask the same basic information (name, age, address, social security number [optional], intended major, extra-curricular activities, etc.) Most colleges have at least one essay; some have two, and if you're applying for a special scholarship specific to that college, you'll probably have to write a third. However, don't panic. I applied to six colleges and managed to have about five generic essays that I tweaked for each one because their questions were similar.

2. Yes. Otherwise you probably won't get any.

3. You apply early by turning in your application early and saying yes/checking the question on the application that asks if you are applying Early Decision/Action. There is also an earlier due date. Be warned - applying Early Decision means that if you're accepted to that school you are obligated to go there. Some colleges have the Early Action option - applying early but with no obligation attached. I applied Early Action to Emerson College - I got accepted but I decided not to go there in the end.

4. Sometimes you do, and sometimes you don't. Out of all six colleges I went to, only one asked me to do an interview. The person I talked to was extremely nice and friendly. If you're far away, some colleges may have some way for you to do it online or something. However, I do advise that you visit each college you apply to. You may get there and be like 'um ew no'. Example: I loved Emerson on paper, and when I went there, I loved the people there and the programs it had...but I didn't like where it was. It had no campus, just a lot of different buildings on all different streets. Me being someone with a terrible sense of direction...that wasn't a + in my book. Boston U, on the other hand, while it has no official campus, takes up about six streets, so it's much easier to navigate.

Okay? Seriously take a deep breath...it'll be a bit of pressure for you when you're actually applying, but when you're shopping around? Colleges will gives you brochures, pamphlets, emails, everything with information, FAQs, etc. They're ADVERTISING, trying to get YOU to come there. So they'll provide answers to everything you asked.

It's not scary...I promise ;) It'll be just fine, you'll see. You should start looking NOW. If you have your list of colleges you're applying to finalized by the beginning of your senior year, you're good to go. Make sure you have a list of deadlines for the colleges. Go to open houses. See if you can visit them on just a regular day; you usually can and someone will take you around. Colleges WANT people to come there, and they'll reach for YOU. So it'll be pretty easy for you. :) Good luck!

Well, basically everything has been said here for the most part, but, seeing as how I just finished my first year of college, I think I would like to just add to and emphasize one thing.

DEFINITELY visit the campuses you are thinking about applying to. And if you can, while going to a campus on an Open House is a good idea, I must tell you that you should also visit on a normal, regular, school day. If you have any friends who go to college, ask to spend a day or a weekend or a few days with them if they are allowed to have guests. Otherwise, just go on your own and talk to the students you see walking around. I found that a lot of the schools sugar-coated their answers to any questions that people had. They would put a positve spin on things or tell half-truths.

For example, I was told that the dorm I lived in was a completely dry dorm (meaning no alcohol) because everyone there was a freshman and underage. HAHAHA guess again. My dorm was one of the wettest dorms on campus. People would smuggle alcohol in all the time and have parties.

Another example was the school work and the teachers... excuse me, professors, there arent teachers anymore.... It was a little different than I expected or anticipated or what I was told about. Not necessarily in a bad way, nor a good way either, but just... different.

So yeah, I must emphasize going to visit the campuses. Shadow someone in the same major you choose if you are allowed to. Eat what they eat, do what they do, follow them to their classes, see what they do for a social life. Ask as many questions as you can and don't be shy about it either. If there's one thing I learned all year its that there is no such thing as a dumb question and that it is better to ask questions to find out info instead of keeping quiet.

Well, that is it for now... any more questions, please ask. You'll do fine when you select your college and go thru that process. It's no big deal as long as you know what you are getting into when you apply to specific colleges.

Do you know of any college fairs coming up? Some HS's had college fairs, where many colleges would come and set up. Then, you could meet representatives, and get brochures and an application from them.

Do you know what you want to do. A google search for say "best Art colleges" would give you a list of colleges that are good if you want to be an art major (just an example). Also, US News and World report puts out an article on the best colleges every year.

Choosing a college is nothing to get all anxious about. I am very happy to hear that you are actively pursuing going to college. Many colleges have "application fees". but, if you have the ability to go there and meet with their admissions department, a lot of time they will give you a fee waiver. Also, if you can talk with an admissions counselor at the college, and express a major interest, again, they may waive your application fee (this was a good trick I used).

Ultimately, having some idea of what kind of college you want is best. Do you want a state school with thousands of people, a smaller school, community college, or a private place. Do you want to go far away, or stay close to home.

Once you know what type of college you want, and your areas of interest, it will be a lot easier to narrow down your search. From there, admission costs and all that will help you narrow down your choices further.

Each college is different in its interviewing processes. If there is one you are SURE you want to go to, then it is best to call them and let them know how interested you are. Discuss with them how it is best to proceed. Once they understand you are serious about admission there, they will work with you to make you a student.

Ultimately, the procedures each college use to determine prospective candiadates are different. Once you have narrowed down your choices, call them to find out the best way to proceed. Colleges usually accept people first, then based on responses, determine scholarship amounts.

As far as financial aid, don't worry about that now. That is something to deal with once you have gotten accepted to the various colleges, and are looking to narrow down your choices. That is when you want to discuss your financial aide and possible scholarship options with them.

good luck sweets. it's not scary at all. Just focus on your SAT's right now, because the better your score the more colleges will want you.

Thank you guys! Its so sweet that you all responded, it really did help (now I finally get the whole application thing) :) Thanks again!