Many parents, not just those of first-generation college hopefuls, feel like they don’t have the knowledge or resources needed to help their student with college applications. A lot has changed in the world of college admissions, but knowledge is power, and we’ve got the resources you need.

1) Start by looking over the topics we cover and the resources we have available in our popular college and career planning guides. 

2) Talk to your student’s high school counselor, they are there to help! Your student’s counselors are knowledgeable resources who can point you to information to support your specific situation.

3) Sign up for the ACT^® parent newsletter! Every month we deliver helpful resources straight to your inbox. The information is timely, covers the topics you need to know, and keeps you on track for supporting your student’s path to college and career success. 

Take the ACT! You probably saw that coming 😉. The reality is that there are lots of things you should do to demonstrate your college-readiness to admissions officers. 

• Be active in your community through volunteer service. This can give you material for your application essays, help guide your major and career interests, and it shows you’ve got the initiative to make an impact on the issues you care about. 

• Take courses that challenge you and help you to explore and cultivate your interests. Colleges look at the rigor of your schedule to help them determine your readiness for college-level academics. 

• Participate in clubs and extracurriculars that highlight your interests. Supplementing these activities with your ACT score is a proven way to show colleges you’re ready for the next level.  

• Spend your summers learning, growing, exploring, and fostering your interests. Colleges want to know your invested in your success year-round, not just during the school year. Spend your summers doing a summer internship or job. Take a pottery class at a local art museum. Start your own babysitting business. Or, read to kids at the local library. Make your summers both fun and meaningful!

• And don’t forget to take the ACT. It’s a great way to stand out, and help admissions officers understand your skillsets and strengths. To make sure you’re ready, take a free practice exam and consider affordable (um, how about free?) test prep options that will prepare you for the ACT.

We’ve got you covered! See how different careers and majors align with your interests with the interest inventory tools available in your free MyACT account. Not only will you see how different careers and majors align with your interests, you might even learn about careers and fields of study you didn’t even know existed! Other great ways to explore career opportunities are through internships, job shadowing, and volunteering. Check out our college and career resources page for additional guides and information. 

Take the free interest inventory in your MyACT account as many times as you want! We suggest you take it as your interests evolve so you can explore new careers and majors as you are learning more about yourself. No one is interested in the same things forever! Feed your curiosity. Sign up for your free MyACT account today to take your interest inventory! 

The term FAFSA is sometimes mistaken for FEAR 😥 – but we promise the federal student financial aid process doesn’t have to be scary. We suggest students and families take the time to check out fafsa.gov. This webpage is the central source for all FAFSA updates and information.

Currently, FAFSA requires students and parents to have separate accounts. Your social security number is the unique identifier on each account and only one parent is required to create an account. All families are unique, and each student is going to have a different set of familial circumstances, so check out the official site before you get started!

The simple answer is no – FAFSA is not a loan, it stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is the form you complete to apply for financial aid and federal student loans.

Loan types? Repayment terms? Scholarships? You’ve probably got A LOT more questions about financial aid and how it works. That’s why we’ve created this Financial Aid eBook to get you started on the journey to paying for college. Download the eBook to get answers to some popular financial aid questions.

This is one the most “Googled” questions for high school students! The simple answer is that college admissions officers want to see a balanced application that shows initiative, academic growth, and authenticity. They want to know you as a person, and they want to know if you’ll succeed at their university. Every applicant will provide grades and GPA information on their college application. Candidates that go above and beyond and showcase their test scores, extracurricular activities, volunteer efforts, and leadership qualities have a better chance of standing out and showing their true potential. An ACT^® test score can help you stand apart from the application crowd.

The number of colleges or universities you apply to depends on your personal preferences and the list of colleges you are interested in attending based on your preferences, interests, desired major, cost, and type of university or college. You don’t need to know your major to build your college list. Many universities and colleges have first-year exploratory programs that allow you to take classes in a variety of subjects to determine your career pathway. Some students build their college lists based on a variety of major options they are interested in – but haven’t decided on! We suggest learning more about the college application process by checking out our Planning for Your Future eBook.

We’d be lying if we said grades and GPAs weren’t important, but keep in mind that colleges and universities want to see well-rounded applicants that demonstrate their potential for success in the classroom and beyond. Taking the ACT is a great way to showcase what you’ve learned and share your potential with your college(s) of choice. Colleges and universities also want to see that you’ve “flexed your mental muscles” by taking classes that are challenging and interesting. Balance out your college application by showing your classroom performance, ACT test scores, extracurricular activities, and more!

ACT fights for fairness in education and supports an educational system where all students have equal access to knowledge, learning, and success. Colleges and universities are also trying to make the journey to college easier for families and students who come from these nontraditional pathways. Here are a few resources we find useful:

ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning

Scholarships for Undocumented and DACA Students

College Guide for DACA and Undocumented Students 

There are important differences between the ACT and SAT related to calculator use, support for English language learners, STEM preparedness, and more. See the following links for more information on why the ACT is the right test for you. 

Reasons to take the ACT

ACT or SAT?