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Student story: Overcoming lack of high school support as an obstacle to college

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  • female robot grace style avatar for user michael austin
    Is this a common thing? Lack of administrative support system in schools?
    (9 votes)
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    • spunky sam blue style avatar for user CZ
      It is very common in small communities (I have been in two towns like this one). Realize that many people in these communities, may have never left the county they live in...in their entire life...so leaving is a huge step. That was a new thing for me when I started teaching in a town like this. I know exactly what this girl is talking about.
      (10 votes)
  • marcimus red style avatar for user Nicole de Reuck
    Are recommendation letters important in college/university applications?
    (7 votes)
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    • ohnoes default style avatar for user kristin
      Yes. Recommendation letters confirm everything else stated in the application and can help reveal to the university characteristics of the student applying. The importance of a recommendation varies depending on school you are applying to. And obviously, the more positive the recommendation, the better chance you have at getting into that school.
      (7 votes)
  • aqualine tree style avatar for user aabbish duaa
    Hi,
    Most of the videos I've watched till now are related to local students in USA, however, there isn't much information about how to apply to an Ivy League as an international student who needs financial aid. I'd appreciate it if I could get some information about that :)
    (5 votes)
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    • leaf green style avatar for user Elizabeth
      This is a very good question. I suggest checking to see if you're home country will offer financial aid for you to go to university abroad. If not, ask if you can get student loans from your home country.
      You might also try looking on the university's website for financial information for international students. They may also have someone you can call and talk to.
      (2 votes)
  • purple pi pink style avatar for user Gargi Gupta
    Here in India, our schooling systems are very different. Would the application process be the same for me?
    (3 votes)
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    • stelly yellow style avatar for user ⭐BEST20042007⭐
      I don't know much about India's school systems, but I do know that if you are applying to a college or university in the U.S from a foreign country, the college admission officers will take a different approach in choosing their applicants. So to answer your question directly, the application process would be a little different to foreign applicants versus people living in the U.S. But just make sure your grades are good and you will have a good chance of getting into college. Additionally, if you need financial help, just ask for student loans and financial aid. Hope this helps.
      (3 votes)
  • starky tree style avatar for user Adan 🌠
    What is the average amount of people dropping college due to money or other reasons?
    (2 votes)
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  • orange juice squid orange style avatar for user Raj
    Has anyone ever felt scared about going to a big university from a small high school?
    (3 votes)
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  • aqualine sapling style avatar for user Christina  Emeharole
    Hi i watched most of the videos and I was really inspired by all of them but I just confused on where to start with my education for college does any body have any Ideas ?
    (3 votes)
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    • leaf green style avatar for user Elizabeth
      How many years until you go to college?
      Start by thinking about what you like to do--what you might like to study.
      And where--do you want to be close to home, or are you up to moving somewhere else.

      These Khan Academy videos are a great start. Watch them, and they will help you.

      In the meantime, study hard and learn a lot in school :)
      (2 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user Diego Garcia Schober
    Can someone please tell me where I could get help; In my school (in Mexico) I have no academic advisor or such. Something or someone that can guide me or help me applying and so on.
    (1 vote)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user MatthewS
    Hi,
    Most of the videos I've watched till now are related to local students in USA, however, there isn't much information about how to apply to an Ivy League as an international student who needs financial aid. I'd appreciate it if I could get some information about that
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • aqualine tree style avatar for user David Alexander
      You can learn these things from the individual schools' web sites. There are not that many Ivy League colleges, and most of their students come from near their locations. So, I encourage you to find a list of Ivy League schools, then consult the web page of each one, individually, with your questions regarding admission and financial aid.
      (1 vote)
  • blobby green style avatar for user Heather Hendren
    I didn't have the support in high school either and now I am shrugged a adult to figure all this out. They were no workshop or if they were i wasn't privy to them because I was in special education. I didn't get a chance because I was exempted from taking those test. I am out of the age bracket where I can get a lot of help and enter a lot of programs plus I learned i was autism on top of adhd and anxiety disorder.
    (1 vote)
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Video transcript

- My school didn't have a college advisor, we had counselors, and the idea was that everybody would go to the local community college or the state school. It's not talked about, how you go about sending your application to 10 different schools. It's just not a thing. When I asked for fee waivers, they were like, "What are you doing?" I'm like, "Well, I'm gonna apply to all these schools." And they're like, "But why?" So it was also that I never... You weren't looked down upon for wanting to leave, but it was definitely no administrative support to wanting to leave. At times I didn't even worry so much about getting in, but whether or not I would even have the opportunity to show these schools that I do deserve to be there. So sometimes, I felt even more defeated, 'cause it's like, "Wow, I have potential, "but I can't show it because I don't know how to." And that was even more of a deterrent to me, to know that there was no institutional support in place to say, "Yes, you can," whereas at other schools, like at the local, I guess, in the suburb school, they had three college advisors right away at their disposal, and we didn't. So it came from a lot of informal mentor places, from those teachers, from my program directors at my after-school program that said "Go and do it." So I came through those avenues, I'd say. And they were the reasons that I was able to come here.