What can I do now to help me prepare? I saw you on the gram. I already posted under the wow factor section. my dream school is Howard. I dont know if my grades are high enough to get in and have it paid for. i dont have the money. I have a 3.4gpa and have not taken my SATS and ACTS yet. extra activties include cheerleading and working. 15 almost 16 years old sophomore. Arianna
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Hello again Arianna! I appreciate your dedication.
Here are some tips on how to prepare for applying for your dream school:
GPA- Howard's mean GPA is 3.66. Your GPA is already very impressive. Continue to do your best in your classes and always feel free to ask your teachers for any questions you may have on certain subjects - their feedback is almost always helpful in improving your understanding of coursework. Additionally, taking honors and AP classes tremendously increase your GPA. Since you are a sophomore, I highly recommend taking these classes in your junior and senior year.
SAT and ACTs- To many schools, these tests are important in the admissions process. However, Howard is test optional, meaning it does not require submission of the SAT or ACT. Personally, I would take advantage of this if you are not a good standardized test taker but if you perform well on these types of tests it would be beneficial to submit your scores.
Financial aid- Some helpful resources in finding financial aid for college include Federal Pell Grants, scholarships and state-specific scholarships and grants.
For Federal Pell Grants, you would need to complete the FAFSA on https://studentaid.gov/. This will provide you with an estimate of the dollar amount of Pell grants you would be eligible for based on your financial situation. They also include loan information as well.
For scholarships, there are multiple platforms that hold thousands of scholarship opportunities. Please check out the scholarships/grants page of our website for some good resources.
Lastly, state-specific scholarships and grants are often hidden gems when it comes to financial aid. Depending on your residency, your state may offer in-state tuition to current residents planning to attend universities in-state. This can range from part to full tuition coverage. I highly suggest you research your state's in-state tuition policy, if that is your plan. Also, filling out College Board's CSS Profile is very helpful as well. It is like the FAFSA but it is used for non-federal financial aid (state grants, scholarship organizations, etc.)
I hope this information will give you a better idea on Howard's application process and college admissions as a whole. By continuing to do your best, I have no doubt that you can get accepted to Howard.