Peterson's Game Plan for Getting into College

by Peterson's Guides

• ISBN13: 9780768903904
• ISBN10: 0768903904
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-06-01
• Publisher: Petersons

Summary

Explains what students should do in the years leading up to college and emphasizes critical areas of the college selection and applications process, including picking a college, applying, and paying college tuition.

Table of Contents

If I'm so Smart, why is this so Complicated?	1	(18)
Getting Started	3	(2)
Colleges: All Sizes, Shapes, and Flavors	5	(1)
Where Will I Be Most Comfortable?	6	(8)
Collegeeze! What Are They Trying to Say?	14	(1)
Learning to Push the Envelope: Setting Personal Goals	14	(5)
Preparing	19	(36)
When Should I Really Start to Think About College?	19	(1)
The Foundation	20	(1)
What Do I Do Now?	21	(4)
Beyond the Classroom	25	(9)
Alphabet Soup (Psat/Nmsqt, Sat I, Act, Sat II, Ap)	34	(19)
Tools and Resources	53	(2)
Which College is for you?	55	(36)
Establishing a Foundation for the Search	55	(3)
The Matching Game	58	(5)
What Are the Best Resources?	63	(11)
What Really Matters? Identifying the Criteria Schools Use	74	(2)
Taking an Objective Look a You	76	(8)
Identifying Your Criteria for Schools	84	(3)
Narrowing the Choices to the Final List	87	(4)
Touring Campuses	91	(18)
Planning the College Visit	91	(10)
The College Interview Process	101	(7)
Saying ``Thank You''	108	(1)
Applying to College	109	(38)
Essential Elements of the Application	110	(2)
Getting Organized	112	(6)
Choosing Your Recommendation Writers Wisely	118	(10)
Writing the Personal Statement or College Essay	128	(6)
Early Action and Early Decision	134	(5)
Rolling Admissions	139	(1)
Admissions Decisions	140	(3)
Alternative Paths	143	(1)
The Final Cut: How Do I Decide?	144	(3)
Paying for College	147	(28)
You're in---Now, How Do You Pay for It?	147	(4)
What Are Sources for Financial Aid?	151	(15)
Avoiding Scholarship Scams	166	(3)
Creating Your Own Scholarship Search	169	(6)
What's a Retention Rate?	175	(12)
Sink or Swim: The Facts of Freshman Life	176	(2)
Is There an Academic Adviser in the House?	178	(3)
Safety, Drinking, and Drug Issues on Campus	181	(2)
Where Do I Go With Emotional or Health Concerns?	183	(2)
Looking Back and Looking Ahead	185	(2)
GLOSSARY	187	(26)
APPENDICES
College Planning Timetable	199	(4)
College Planning Guide	203	(2)
College Visitation Notes	205	(2)
A Sample Request for Information from Colleges	207	(2)
College Search Computer Worksheet	209	(4)
Biography	213