College Stress Support Group

Hi Hippylu and welcome!

My best advice it do just do the best you can, test scores aren't really everything.

Having gone through both HS (I took the ACT and the SAT too) and college I can tell you that most schools do look at more than just test scores, for example if you volunteer, or work, play sports involved in theater etc. I'm not saying that you should do more to prove yourself, I'm just trying to say that one test isn't the sole indicator of being admitted to a school or not. So, it really is okay if you just want to relax a little. :D

Also, yes I went to a liberal arts college graduated w/ 2 degrees but I didn't enjoy my experience (its a long story). Yes, people do go to schools they love but it all depends on what they really want out of there college experience. For some, they just want to study and for others they want to be more involved on campus and live up their college experience.

In addition, as for what to expect from actually attending. Depending on the school you go to, it is structured somewhat like HS as in you are expected to come to class on time and have your homework done on time, but there is more independence as well as accountability for getting your homework done. For example, most professors hand out a syllabus w/ a list of assignments on it then its up to you to personally keep track of whats due when.

Overall, what I'm trying to say is that it is a big change but it really is manageable. You just have to take it one step at a time :)

My only other advice is to develop a plan of action to help put you at more ease. For example, maybe you could try making a list of 7 schools that you are interested 3 that you definitely want to go to 3 that are "just in case" schools that you could live w/ going to and 1 community college that has an open enrollment if other schools don't work out.

Also, when you are deciding what schools you want to apply to, I HIGHLY recommend that you also discuss these schools w/ your parents especially if they will be helping you pay for school.

Mainly so that both you and your parents can be on the same page about their as well as your expectations for school. For example, do your parents expect you to both work and go to school? Are they going to give you a living allowance each semester while you are in school full-time? Are they going to pay for your tuition and your basic necessities while you'll have to work for you own spending money etc?

Please trust me when I say that getting on the same page financially we help avoid A LOT of headaches later. There's nothing like being cut off from the bank of mom and dad when the credit cards are maxed out LOL!! :D

Finally, if you still feel a little nervous I highly recommend the site and the magazine Youngmoney.com. It great magazine that's made for college age students 18-24. They have a lot great ideas and tips. The school I went to had free issues in the student newspaper.

Well GOOD LUCK on the ACT! Try not to worry, you'll do just fine! :D

Thank you so much! what school did you go to?

if anyone out there goes to: reed, louis and clark, evergreen state, u. of puget sound, or anywhere up west that you like, please talk to me

I have a friend at the University of Washington in Seattle and she loves it. It's a big school, but she's in the honors college which she claims is a smaller, more intimate atmosphere where she has small classes and gets to study what she wants. Basically a liberal arts college within a big university, and in a part of the country you seem to be attracted to. They had a 60% acceptance rate this year too, which means if you're a decent student you'll probably get in.

I actually live right across the water from the University of Washington, Seattle. The location is great and my friends over there love it. In regards to class sizes, it really depends on what you want to go into. They can range anywhere from 13 to 700 students and Freshman classes are usually huge.

If you want to go to a liberal arts school in Washington State, Western Washington University is great (www.wwu.edu). I'm applying there :) They are pretty lenient with test scores and GPAs and look at your extracurricular activities. One of the essay prompts just has you saying something that you want them to know about you. I don't have great test scores myself, but I told them that I like pursuing things in spite of my lack of competence.

They are located in the northern part of the state, just about an hour away from Vancouver, Canada. There are all sorts of outdoorsy things to do up there and the student body is just awesome!

that school looks amazing!
hmm, I might apply there

but as for UW: I think its a little large for me, even with the honors program...I'm more into the small schools..I might apply anyway though

Thanks so much for the advice

I adore the University of Maine. It is a liberal arts school. I don't know about the ACT but I know that some of my friends got accepted with 900-range scores in the SAT (I don't think it's scored the same way now, though... 900/1600). I would recommend it but I think it depends on your interests and preferences to pick a school.

Does it have your major of choice?
Is it too far away, too close?
Are there activities of interest?
How about tuition or funding?

Good questions to ask both yourself and the administration of any school you look at.
Good luck :)