Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-442-6062

Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-925-2803

You've been hearing it since freshman year in high school, or even earlier: "Keep your grades up, or you won't get into a good College... participating in this club will look good on your scholarship application... Stick with baseball -- you might need it for college." Now that college is on the brain, and on the tongues of your teachers and parents, you must consider two very important questions: How much do you really know about getting into college, and how much of what you've heard is true?

Take the following true/false quiz to find out if you're savvy enough to ace the applications process.

QUESTIONS

True or false...?

1. Even if you have a lot of extracurricular activities under your belt, your GPA still counts.

2. A high ACT or SAT score can earn you bonus points in the eyes of admissions officers.

3. If the essay on the scholarship application is optional, there's no point in writing it if you've got a 32 ACT score, a 4.0 GPA, and tons of extracurricular activities.

4. You're in the middle of your junior year and just realized you want to go to college. Don't worry -- it's not too late to make up for those horrible grades in your freshman and sophomore years.

5. You should apply to only one school at a time.

6. It's better to wait until later in your senior year before Applying to College -- that way, you have time to work on your GPA.

7. You can get into college with a low ACT or SAT score.

8. You shouldn't bother applying for a scholarship, because there are always student loans and part-time jobs to foot your college bill.

9. Since some scholarships are only given to recipients who haven't accepted any other forms of financial aid, you should only apply for one scholarship at a time.

10. You don't know if you really want to go to college yet, so you shouldn't do anything until you make a decision.

ANSWERS

1. True. You can be captain of the football team, president of the drama club, and a member of almost every club in school, and still have problems if your GPA is only 1.2. Dan Rosenfield, dean of enrollment management at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, claims that extracurricular activities don't always play a major role in  

college applications

  -- GPA and standardized test scores give a more accurate picture of how well you will perform.

In Rosenfield's opinion, extracurriculars are often a "tip factor" -- meaning if two students have equal GPA and test scores, the scales might tip in favor of the student with more activities. A student with phenomenal talent, however -- such as a future NFL possibility -- might find that extracurricular activities factor more, he adds.

2. True. At some universities, test scores determine placement in classes, allow you to skip classes with credit, and determine whether you will be able to join honor programs in your first semester. Although ACT/SAT scores are not always the only deciding factor in admissions, Rosenfield recommends students take the tests a minimum of three times -- once a year from sophomore to senior years. Practice makes perfect, and when it could mean a few "free" credits, practice might prove worthwhile.

3. False. There might be 10 applicants with equal ACT scores and GPAs, and extracurricular activities that'll put you to shame. If the school can only offer five scholarships, and only six people wrote the essay, you can bet that those six will get higher consideration. The essay also gives you a chance to showcase traits that aren't displayed in your academic record.

4. True. There is a college for "anyone who is capable and willing to do the work," says Rosenfield. It's never too late, and some colleges will take improved academic records into account.

5. False. Apply to all schools you might be interested in, or at least your top three choices. This is especially true when applying to highly competitive schools. Your application may be denied, and if you haven't applied elsewhere, a school could have filled all their openings for that semester. Applying to more than one university can help guarantee that you'll at least be admitted to one, explains Shirley Banez of the University of Texas at San Antonio scholarship office. And being accepted for admission doesn't mean you can't decline in favor of another option.

Rosenfield also advises not discounting a school based on price, because you won't know what the final cost will be until all financial aid applications have been calculated. Having said that, however, he cautions students to have both an academic safety (a school to which you know you will be accepted) and a financial safety (a school you know you will be able to afford).

6. False. According to Rosenfield, many universities don't process housing or financial aid applications until a student has been admitted. Applying first semester senior year gives students an advantage in housing and financial aid over those who wait until the last minute. It also allows more time to learn more about the institution and possible majors.

7. True. Although test scores are important for a variety of reasons, many colleges will also look at your GPA, and other academic factors. Any university is "looking for people who will succeed," which can be demonstrated in a variety of ways, says Rosenfield. Plus, he adds that a low test score might not automatically keep students from skipping basic classes -- some universities offer their own "test-out" programs in which you can take a test to get credit for a single class.

8. False. You don't have to pay back a scholarship. That's reason enough to apply, even if it seems time consuming. If the scholarship is worth $1,000, and it took you five hours to complete the application, that's $200 an hour! What part-time job could pay you that?!

9. False. It's always best to apply for multiple scholarships, says Banez. There's no guarantee that you'll be awarded the scholarship you want, and even if you receive multiple offers, you can turn down conflicting scholarships. Plus, scholarships oftentimes have disbursement limits, so it's best to apply for all other applicable scholarships when the opportunities arise.

10. False. It's better to be safe than sorry. After all, you don't have to go to college just because you got accepted. But you won't be able to go at all if you don't apply.

How Did You Score?

(0-3) Three or Fewer Correct: You probably haven't thought a lot about your College Application. If you plan on going to college, ask your guidance counselor and teachers what steps you need to take. If you're a freshman or sophomore, set goals each year to work toward a great scholarship application. If you're a junior or senior, visit nearby colleges and speak with the dean of admission to discover things you can do to enhance your chances of getting in.

(4-6) Four to Six Correct: You're starting to get ready for college, and have a pretty good understanding of the application process. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to ask for help or advice, particularly if you're a senior in high school and find that you're running behind on application deadlines. Do some online research about your college choices and the application process. Visit www.CollegeBound.net or www.CollegeSurfing.com for help.

(7-10) Seven to 10 Correct: You already know a lot about applying to college, and probably have all your information in order (or know how to get it in order). So what are you waiting for? Go fill out your applications!

Sound Off! Post Your Comments