There’s a lot that goes into planning for college, from choosing a good-match college and figuring out your finances to working on your academic and extracurricular accomplishments. There’s no denying that going through all the preparatory steps and making sure they all fit together can be challenging. But what makes it even more challenging are all the college planning misconceptions and myths that are out there.
Debunking common misconceptions about getting into college.
When looking for college planning advice, students often receive conflicting suggestions from different sources, which can end up being even more confusing. At College Raptor, we are committed to simplifying the path to college and helping students make the right decisions. With that in mind, we’ve listed some of the most common college planning misconceptions we’ve come across along with the facts behind each.
1. “College is too expensive. There’s no way my family can afford it.”
Fact: While college tuition may be high, your family does not need to fund it completely from their private savings. There are numerous financial aid resources available to all students. These include gift aid such as grants and scholarships as well as student loans, which need to be paid back. Financial assistance for students may come from the federal or state governments, private organizations, and colleges themselves.
When looking at college costs, you see the price published on the college website (the sticker price). That is not what you’ll pay to attend that school. The actual price you’ll pay (the net price) is usually much lower depending on how much financial aid you qualify for. Each college website is legally required to have a net price calculator. Use it to calculate your net price to attend that particular college.
There are several other ways to make college more affordable, from attending an in-state college to starting at community college and transferring to a 4-year school. When looking for money for college, don’t forget to apply for scholarships.
2. Colleges award financial aid only to students who excel academically.
Fact: Colleges don’t only award financial aid based on academic excellence. Financial aid is reserved for students who have financial need. If you meet a school’s eligibility criteria and are admitted, the school will look into your FAFSA application to determine your financial need. They will then put together a financial aid package that makes the school affordable for you. Their aim is to make it possible for eligible students to attend.
Students who excel academically may receive merit-based scholarships but that’s a separate allotment and does not deplete the resources kept aside for financial aid.
3. It’s better to take easy classes in high school and maintain a high GPA to improve my chances of admission.
Fact: This misconception stems from the fact that GPA is an important factor for getting accepted into a college. While it’s true that every college has a minimum GPA requirement, taking easy classes to maintain a high GPA is not the answer and it won’t increase your acceptance chances.
When assessing your application, admissions reps consider both – your GPA and the classes you took. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA while taking only easy classes isn’t necessarily considered favorably. On the other hand, a slightly lower GPA with a rigorous course load may be better appreciated. Admissions reps will recognize that you challenged yourself, which can work in your favor.
4. “My choice of classes and grades during senior year of high school don’t matter.”
Fact: The opposite is true – the classes you take and the grades you get during your senior year of high school can play an important role in preparing you for college work.
In the earlier misconception, we highlighted one reason why you should take challenging classes in high school. Another reason to take challenging classes is to be better prepared for college. College classes and assignments are not a walk in the park. They are rigorous and tend to cram a lot of coursework in a short time-frame. You must be prepared to work hard to succeed. Taking easy classes will not do that. The more you challenge yourself in high school, the better your chances of succeeding in college.
If your school thinks your choice of classes and your grades reflect that you’ve lost your academic focus, they may retract your offer of admission or put you on academic probation.
5. “The more extracurricular activities I can list, the stronger my college application will be.”
Fact: When it comes to extracurricular activities, more is not always better.
Colleges do want to see that you’re doing more than the bare minimum. But, what has a bigger impact is listing one or two activities and highlighting the quality of your involvement and how you contributed to them in a meaningful way. This demonstrates depth of character, which is what colleges are looking for in prospective students.
6. “I did great in high school. I know I’ll do great in college too.”
Fact: Doing well in high school is no prediction of how well you’ll do in college. High school is very different from college. While you’re in high school, you would most likely be living at home, which means you don’t have to worry about thinks like cooking food, cleaning up, doing your laundry, or paying any bills. Your parents may even keep you accountable for getting to school on time, completing your homework, or studying for your exams.
In college, you’re on your own. You have to fend for yourself when it comes to eating, laundry, and cleaning. This is in addition to making sure you get to your classes and complete all homework on time, remember your exam schedule and stay on top of your finances and making sure all bills are paid on time. This doesn’t mean you can’t do it, but it helps to have more realistic expectations.
7. “Unlike high school, I can choose any courses I want in college.”
Fact: You can choose some but not all of the courses in college. While you can choose your major and your electives, you should know that there are some limits to your options. For example, it is mandatory for all students to complete the general education requirements, regardless of their choice of major. General education classes encompass a core set of classes that help students get a broader education outside of their chosen major.
To earn your degree, you must complete both, the core classes of your major as well as the general education requirements.
8. Taking on huge student loans and graduating with debt is bad.
Fact: Student loan debt can appear to be a bad thing (and it is if you let payments slide). But what remains buried under the avalanche of news are the ongoing discussions over whether going to college is worth it. This is one of many discussions that emphasize the value of going to college and earning a degree even if it means taking on student loans and graduating with debt.
Earning a college degree comes with several compelling benefits from higher earning potential, more career options, and lower unemployment rates to stronger recession resilience, access to alumni networks, and overall better health.
9. Only straight-A students get into good colleges.
Fact: Definitely not true. While top grades can boost your chances of admission (especially to selective schools), it’s not the only factor that colleges consider in their admission process. Colleges take a variety of factors into consideration when evaluating applications. A compelling personal essay that stands out and a strong track record of extracurricular activities that demonstrate your commitment to a cause are just two of many factors that are just as important as all A grades.
Here’s an interesting fact: Many straight-A students get rejected from some of the top schools for several different reasons. Getting all A grades is not a sure ticket to getting into any school. So, if even if you’re not a straight-A student, you could still get into the school of your dreams based on your unique strengths and experiences. Just make sure to highlight these in your application.
Worried about your admissions odds? Check out these top “easy to get into” colleges.
10. My SAT/ACT scores are more important than my high school grades.
Fact: Both are equally important. When assessing your application, colleges will weigh your high school grades as well as your SAT or ACT scores if you took the tests. Both are strong indicators of your potential to succeed in college.
While each college has their own application evaluation process, most use either the high school grades or SAT/ACT scores as a deciding factor when deciding between two equally qualified candidates. Don’t ignore either.
11. Going to community college is a waste of time. I should only consider 4-year colleges.
Fact: There are several advantages to starting at community college. The cost of tuition at a community college is much lower than that of any 4-year college. Completing two years in a community college and then transferring to a 4-year university can save you thousands of dollars. Besides, community colleges offer strong academic programs so you won’t be missing out.
Starting out at a community college can be especially beneficial to students who haven’t decided on a major. The lower cost of tuition offers undecided students with an affordable way to test out different classes before deciding on a major.
12. I shouldn’t submit the FAFSA as my family doesn’t have high financial need.
Fact: Every student applying to college SHOULD file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) regardless of financial circumstances or perceived financial need. The FAFSA grants you access to various forms of federal, state, and institutional financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and student loans. If you don’t submit the FAFSA, you’ll lose access to all these financial assistance resources. There is no income cut-off for eligibility to financial aid at federal, state, or institutional level.
Another reason to submit the FAFSA is because you never know when your circumstances may change. A parent’s job loss or a medical emergency can quickly deplete your family’s finances. At times like these, you may not have the funding options you need if you haven’t submitted the FAFSA. The FAFSA becomes available on October 1 every year for the following academic year. For your first year, you will have to submit this application while you’re in high school and before schools send out their acceptance letters.
These misconceptions about college can send you down the wrong path and derail your long-term academic and career goals. Don’t let them! Learning to differentiate between misconceptions and college and planning facts is key to making the right decisions when planning for college.
At College Raptor, you can find several useful articles with college planning tips and advice. These will help you avoid the many misconceptions that could derail your efforts and send you down the wrong path. The College Match Tool to is another valuable resource that can help you discover personalized college matches, cost estimates, acceptance odds, and potential financial aid for schools around the US—for FREE!
