College Assumptions Test: True or False?

If your parents didn't go to college, you won't get into a college.

FALSE!!!! There are first generation students all over the world. Just because your parents didn't go to college doesn't prevent you from going to college. Some of the people I know who went to college as first generation students are: Michelle Obama; Samuel L Jones; Viola Davis; Jimmy Carter; Albert Einstein; Richard Nixon; Oprah Winfrey; and YOU! :-)

Most students earn a full-ride scholarship to major universities

False A majority of students on college campuses have some sort of financial aid; however, there are some highly selective universities like Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and Princeton where students coming from families that earn less than $60,000 will receive a full-ride scholarship to attend. Visit the U.S. Department of Education's "Calculator Center" (http://collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx) to input your college or university and find out how much it will actually cost to attend.

You have to have a 4.0 to get into college or university

False Colleges and Universities aren't necessarily looking for 4.0 students. Colleges look for students who have shown effort, achievement or have special skills or abilities; grades are just one of the factors colleges consider. Note: This does not give you credence to slack off—grades are important (especially for scholarships!) but they are not the end-all for some colleges

The fees listed on college websites and publications are the fees for all students.

False Depending on your family's income, your fees could be greatly reduced. For instance, if your family earns under $60,000 a year as a household, your fees could be reduced exponentially and college could even be free!

Private universities are only for the wealthy

False In many cases, private universities offer more financial support than their public counterparts. Many students are surprised to find that in some cases private universities offer significantly reduced tuition, loan-free education or full-ride college scholarships based on family income.

Colleges are only looking for well-rounded students; colleges are not looking for specialists.

False Many universities share that they aren't looking for students who do everything, rather they would like to find students who have special interests or skills. For instance, if a student wants to become a doctor, he/she should try to enroll in high school education courses in science (i.e. AP Chemistry, AP Biology, etc.) and involve themselves in clubs that support this major.

All colleges require you to pay the tuition costs all at once

False Most colleges understand that students are not able to pay all the tuition costs up front and will work with you to establish a payment plan. Regardless of income, all families should apply for Financial Aid to help pay for college costs. Visit the Student and Parents Resources on gocollegenow.org to find additional tools and resources to navigate the financial aid process.

University deadlines are flexible; if you discuss your situation with the college, they will allow late entries.

False Welcome to the real world. Most universities don't care that your cat just died, nor do they want to hear about how your computer got a virus and your printer broke. Sorry, colleges will honor those students who get their applications in on time. If you are late, you won't be able to enroll for the first term. You may, however, be able to enroll during a different term.

If your family is considered low-income, you may see reductions in your tuition costs.

True As stated before, there are many benefits on a local and federal level to help lower-income families send their children to college at more affordable rates. Regardless of income, all families should apply for Financial Aid through the FAFSA to help pay for college costs. Upward Bound will help you with this in your Senior year! Visit the Student and Parents Resources on gocollegenow.org to find additional tools and resources to navigate the financial aid process.

Many colleges require you to submit a written "Personal Statement."

True Many colleges require an essay where you describe yourself and your achievements. It is important for you to be honest and to not exaggerate nor underestimate your qualities. Colleges use these essays to evaluate potential students to try to find the best students for their campuses. This is your chance to show your unique qualities and traits.

Going to community college can help students gain access to a 4-year university if their high school GPA is low.

True Some students will decide they want to go to college, but their GPAs (Grade Point Averages) are too low. After high school, these students may do well to enter a community college where they can start fresh and gain college credits. In some cases, a community college will have special partnerships with 4-year Universities. If you follow the community colleges' programs for transfer, you can gain guaranteed access to certain universities.

Talking with someone who has gone to college can be helpful for students to learn about college life.

True Talking with someone who has gone to college can help you understand what needs to be done to get into college and do well. Even listening to someone who dropped out or didn't go to college can help you learn what didn't work. That's why we provide you with Delicious Hour every month at Upward Bound - the more you get to hear from college students and graduates, the more prepared you are for your own journey.

It is possible to get scholarships in areas other than athletics.

True There are scholarships for a myriad of activities; athletics is just one. Leadership, Art, Science, Religious affiliations, GPA, or simply being of a certain heritage can all earn you scholarships and students can start applying as early as middle school! Visit the Student and Parents Resources on gocollegenow.org to sign up for scholarship alerts and learn more about applying for scholarships.

You can take the ACTs more than once

True You can retake the ACT as many times as you'd like. That is why it is valuable to take your first test early on so you can take as many as possible. Your best scores will be sent to the colleges of your choosing. The ACT is usually quite expensive, but Upward Bound Juniors can get 2 waivers from the school, after which UB will pay for as many registrations as the student wants!