Fort Valley State Review

Information about Fort Valley State, career training programs, and sample multiple-choice tests. Browse a practical guide to online classes, MOOCs, admissions info, and financial aid. Just be yourself, and work on improving your grades during your final years in high school. There are over 6,500 accredited colleges and universities in the United States, which collectively enroll over 15 million students, granting two million bachelors degrees a year. Recent developments in college admissions include higher numbers of applicants, more foreign students, and increased use of online application forms. It's optimal to attempt the hardest courses that your high school offers, and the worst thing you can do is to drop a hard course just because you're receiving a low grade.

Every year, US News & World Report, Money Magazine, and a few other national magazines publish annual college rankings. About half of colleges use a waiting list, particularly those which are more selective. One survey suggests that 30% of wait-listed students are eventually accepted, so applicants who are wait-listed should contact the admissions office of their top choice by phone, to declare that they will attend if accepted. Many community colleges have agreements with four-year schools, particularly flagship state universities, so that the transfer of credits is handled smoothly.

Test Prep, Sample Practice Tests

Most colleges accept either the SAT or ACT, and have formulas for converting scores into admissions' criteria. Colleges use these standardized tests because there are substantial differences in curricula, grading, and difficulty among US high schools. One benefit of the ACT test is that it allows the test-taker to select scores to send to specific colleges. ACT test questions are geared towards higher levels of high school mathematics, while the SAT test is a better choice for students with an excellent vocabulary. Counselors suggest that students practice taking the test under actual testing conditions, and using a large watch with a sweeping second hand, rather than a digital display which may distract you.

On average, over half of juniors retaking the SAT as a senior saw improvements in their scores. These tests are designed to measure your accumulated knowledge over years of study. Further, Advanced Placement exams are offered in a variety of physical sciences, offering you college credit for honors-level classes that you have taken while still in high school. Test yourself with practice exams online, before visiting the College Board website to register to take your actual AP Tests. If you earn a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam, you may be able to receive course credits or advanced placement, when you start college.

Guide to College Admissions

High school grades are the single most important factor in gaining admission to the college of your choice. Therefore, maintaining high grades is particularly important for the fall semester of senior year, as well as the winter semester if you're applying by regular admission, and not seeking early decision. Many colleges pay great attention to a student's grades throughout their senior year, not limited to academic performance in core courses, but in AP-level or honors courses as well. In fact, an ideal academic record is one of increasingly better grades, in courses of progressive difficulty.

Factors in the college admissions' process: 1. GPA in AP classes, or honors courses 2. Strength of high school curriculum 3. SAT or ACT scores 4. Overall high school GPA 5. Admissions essay 6. Early decision commitment 7. Your class rank 8. Athletics contributions 9. Teacher recommendations 10. AP Test scores 11. Extracurricular activities

Financial Aid Information

Academic scholarships are highly competitive, and are usually awarded either by the admissions office, or individual academic departments. Merit-based aid is a package of scholarships and grants awarded to students with special talents. Most private loan programs are tied to one or more financial indexes, such as the BBA LIBOR Rate, plus an overhead charge. Because private loans are based on the credit history of the applicant, the overhead charge may vary.

Federal Direct Student Loans, also known as Direct Loans, are funded by the US Treasury. Private student loans, however, are not guaranteed, and are offered directly to students by a commercial bank, employee credit union, or finance company. Student loans should be seen as 'the measure of last resort,' as this entails graduating with substantial debt. Student credit cards may seem like a good short-term solution, but the interest rates are high, and credit cards often carry an annual fee. If you do end up using credit cards to meet some expenses, pay off the outstanding balance in full every month. You can get a credit report online by submitting a student credit card application, whether you are approved or not.

Scholarship Search, Government Grants

Peterson's scholarship search is good to check not only for college scholarships, but also for the extensive resources on the college application process. Both county and city governments have dedicated financial resources allocated for grants and scholarships to qualified students in their areas. Many non-profit organizations have founded scholarships for prospective students. Average students often ask whether there are any scholarships available to students who don't have a 4.0 GPA. In fact, there are many scholarships for average students, such as athletic scholarships, music scholarships, and need-based scholarships.


Financial Aid Loan Calulators:

College Cost Projector Loan Calculator Compound Interest

Payment Chart Generator Loan Consolidation Calculator Stafford Loan vs. PLUS Loans

Government scholarships and grants, combined with private scholarships, only account for a third of total college aid. Loans, earnings, and savings make up the remaining two thirds. In exchange for a service commitment, the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program provides you with money for college while you're in school. Full ROTC scholarships pay for almost all tuition, fees, and textbook costs for four years of college. Call 1-800-USA-ROTC Army for more information. The terms for private loans vary from lender to lender. A common suggestion is to shop around on all loan terms, not just the student loan interest rate. Please note that financial aid application deadlines are strictly enforced by the financial aid office. The official FAFSA website is www.fafsa.ed.gov and is free. Copycat websites mimic the FAFSA website, but are deliberately misleading. A wealth of other financial aid forms are now available online.

Reduce Tuition Expenses via Online Courses

Finishing college a year early reduces your overall tuition bill, while taking extra years to complete your degree compounds tuition expenses, and delays entry into the workforce. To accomplish this end, look for online courses that may be applied to your degree requirements. Although the cost of tuition is rising for most 4-year colleges and universities, community colleges and trade schools remain an affordable option for those looking to earn an associates degree. The average community college student graduates with only a few thousand dollars in debt, compared to bachelors degree graduates. Beyond the cost of college tuition, students will face an array of additional expenses. Taking on work-study or starting an online business may help.

Doing business online is a great option to supplement your income while still a student. By registering a domain name, pointing the name servers to your hosting company, then building an active website in HTML or via a WordPress template, you're in the game. Similar to magazine page layout, website design includes the fields of graphic design, copywriting, and search engine optimization (SEO). Success is governed by two factors, visitor traffic and online sales conversions. Technical training programs are a low-cost alternative to attending college, and you might end up earning a lot of money as a highly-skilled, technical consultant.

Business Administration

The financial crisis has only strengthened the need for people trained in computer programming and small business management. Hence, majoring in either computer science or business administration is a good choice for career development. Whether an online business or a real world storefront, owning your own business can be a pathway to success. You'll need some starting capital to survive your first year in business, typically relying on savings equal to six months of rent. Write a business plan that lists your objective as well as a total of your anticipated start-up costs. Then, double that estimate, and you'll get an idea of how much money you'd need to have a chance of starting your own business.

Your business plan is a snapshot of your business profile and financial goals. The company description provides information on what you do, what differentiates your business from others, and the markets your business serves. Before launching your business, it is essential for you to research your business industry, market and competitors. If you need funding, providing financial projections to back up your request is critical. Please visit the Small Business Administration website, to find more information about starting a business.

Sports-related Injuries

Orthopedics, the strength of bone:

Substance	Lbs per cubic foot	Tension	Compression	Shear
Steel	490	65,000	60,000	40,000
Granite	170	1,500	15,000	2,000
Oak Tree	46	12,500	7,000	4,000
Compact bone	119	13,200	18,000	11,800

Every student needs to purchase health insurance, and that goes double for student-athletes. In the weight room, don't be fooled by players who are always pumping iron. It takes a lot more than big muscles to succeed in college sports. Players are becoming more agile, and developing superior game skills every year. You need to develop muscle strength as well, it's true, but your primary focus in weight training should be to use the equipment to help you develop strength along a natural range of motion.