Use your SAT or ACT scores to get college scholarships

Even though many universities have settled on vague and confusing “test optional” admissions policies, and some students might be able to get into a school or two without doing any testing, SAT and ACT (and even PSAT!) scores are still crucial for one of the biggest factors in making college affordable: Scholarships.

Have some test scores you’re not sure about? Use the rest of the summer to make college affordable with these simple steps:

1. Build a college list based on your test scores

Search for schools that match your interests with Big Future and CollegeXpress.

Then use the College Navigator tool to check whether the university accepts test scores and what the average scores are. Your test scores should be above the 25th percentile of applicants, and ideally around the 50th percentile to feel most confident about your application.

2. Check the estimated cost of those schools based on family income

Use the Federal Student Aid calculator to get an estimate of how much financial aid you might expect to receive.

Then check whether the universities on your list have a cost calculator by searching “new price calculator [name of school].” If they do have one, you can subtract the student aid you might receive from the net price to get an estimate of the remaining cost.

Otherwise, use the average cost data from College Navigator to get a more rough price estimate.

3. Hunt for scholarships to make up the difference in price

Use extensive scholarship search tools such as the JLV Scholarship list, Fastweb, and scholarships.com to see national listings.

Then ask your high school counselor for their list of available local scholarships. (There are more than you’d think, often with a much smaller pool of applicants!)

Based on these two search methods, put together a list of scholarships that you qualify for and/or that align with your interests and passions.

4. Start drafting your applications – do you have everything you need?

For a competitive scholarship application, you’ll need:

1. A connection to the subject, source, or purpose of the scholarship.
2. A strong essay, cover letter, or project.
3. A competitive test score and/or competitive grades.

Don’t have scores yet? Use your scholarship and college list to set your score improvement goals and get started with a comprehensive SAT or ACT test prep course today!

Need help with your scholarship essay? Schedule a free consultation with March Consulting college planners to get one-on-one guidance.

Want a guide to putting your scores to work with personalized support?