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Admission and Financial Aid:
Your ACT or SAT score significantly affects your chances for admission, while preparing to raise your score can be the best paying job you ever have. For example, three extra ACT points can mean thousands of dollars in financial aid from a Nebraska public or private college. It can take summers before that job working the cash register can equal the thousands of dollars in aid a 3-point ACT increase brings.
In-state Public Colleges:
An ACT score is required for admission at Nebraska's public universities and colleges. A score of 20 is required to ensure admission to the University of Nebraska system. The three state colleges will admit you probably with an 18. Each school will give you financial aid for a higher score.
In-state Private Colleges:
A former BTP student's parent says that his son's 28 meant $6000 a year in financial aid from Nebraska Wesleyan. That's $24,000 over four years! Two more points can mean at least $1000 in aid per year. Preparing to score higher on the ACT and SAT pays more than most jobs for teenagers.
Out-of-state Public and Private Colleges:
An ACT or SAT score is typically required for admission. Public colleges and universities rarely offer much financial aid to out-of-state students. You should probably expect to pay the retail price or close to it. However, private colleges dole out merit and need-based financial aid. To receive need-based financial aid, your test score and entire application must be acceptable for admission; then your family must qualify by exhibiting financial need. Many private schools also give out merit-based aid: for music skill, athletic skill, leadership recognition, and/or high diagnostic test scores.
Private Scholarships:
Many private scholarships require applicants to be in the top 10% of their class, so GPA is critical, as it is for college admission. However, many private scholarships also look closely at your diagnostic test score.
What's in a score?
Admission to great schools and great amounts of financial aid. So score higher!
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