Frequently Asked Questions
What is My College Options?
My College Options is a comprehensive, FREE online college planning service. You
can learn more about how what we offer you and how the service works by clicking
on "About My College Options".
How can I get my username and password?
If you completed a paper version of the My College Options Survey or our Post-Secondary
Planning Survey under the supervision of your counselor or teachers, you will receive
your username and password along your College Match Report. However, you can also
establish a username and password by registering online at
www.mycollegeoptions.org. Simply click on "Get started now!" and follow
the prompts.
How can I change my username and password?
Once you have a My College Options account, you can change your account information,
including your username and password, at any time. Log in with your old ones and
follow the prompts to change anything you want to update. If you have forgotten your
username or password, click on "Forgot Password". Next, enter the email address that
your MyCollegeOptions account is registered, and click "Go". It's that Easy!
What is the purpose of the Post-secondary Planning Survey that
I filled out at school?
If you participated in the survey at school, you completed the paper version. Both
the paper survey and the online survey allow you to create a personal profile of
your needs and interests as they relate to your post-secondary school options.
Online, we refer to this as "My Matches". Having
this information about you allows us to develop for you a list of colleges that
match your profile and to connect you with institutions that are looking for students
like you.
I want to go to college. What should I do to make that happen?
There is no simple answer to this question. However, you can begin by reading "
A
Successful Future Awaits You", an introductory article that will give you an overview
of college planning and how to get started in the process. As you become familiar
with your My College Options "CollegeBox" and all of its features, you will find
tons of valuable information that will help you turn your dream of going to college
into a reality.
How do I know which schools are best for me?
The colleges and universities that that match your needs, interests, abilities,
and career goals are the ones that are best for you. Finding these colleges takes
work on your part. Successful college planning involves self-assessment, research,
learning about how the admission and financial aid processes work, college entrance
exam preparation, testing, etc. Although you will not begin the application formally
until your senior year, it is almost never too early to begin thinking about college.
Even in middle schools, students can gain valuable information that will help them
make wise decisions later about which colleges suit them best.
How can I find scholarships that will help me pay for college?
Finding scholarships for which you are eligible is not as easily as some make it
sound. While there are many scholarship opportunities, most have very specific guidelines
and stringent eligibility requirements.
There are, however, other sources of financial aid to help in financing your college
education. The section on "
Paying for College" found in the MCO "CollegeBox" and
articles on financial aid located in the "Article Archives" will provide you with
valuable information on this topic.
I am a not a senior. Can I still get information from My College
Options that will help me right now?
You will find lots of info for each class (9th - 12th grade)
at My College Options. There are monthly newsletters and planning calendars, as
well as all sorts of articles providing general and specific college planning information.
Browse the site and help yourself to whatever you need. If you don't find what you
are looking for, please email us with your questions at www.mycollegeoptions.org/faq.
We will respond as soon as possible.
How can I get more info on financial aid?
Click on "
Paying for College" in the "CollegeBox". This section will provide you
with an overview of the financial aid process and ways to finance your college education.
When should I start filling out student loan applications for
college?
The process of applying for any form of financial aid begins in your senior year.
If you are looking at Federal Student Aid, including loans, you and your parents
or guardians will need to complete the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA), which is available online (or in paper form at the end of the year) and
will also require a income tax information for the year prior to your college enrollment.
Other loans may be available through the colleges to which you apply, as well. Click
on "
Paying for College" in the My College Options "CollegeBox" for details or search
the MCO "Article Archives" for additional information.
How can I get information on good schools that will prepare me
for a career that interests me?
One of the features of My College Options is Career Exploration. You can update
your profile to include various possibilities to get a list of traditional, specialized,
and/or career colleges that match your career interests and goals.
Where can I find additional information about a particular college?
You can visit the websites of the colleges that interest you to request additional
information about them. In some instances, colleges and universities that match
your needs and interests may contact you, personally, as a result of your completing
the My College Options "My Matches".
What do I need to do to make it easier for me to get into the
college of my choice?
See the following links in the Student Lounge:
All of these sections will provide information on how you can enhance your college
search and admission experience and increase your chances for being accepted at
colleges for which you are qualified. (Remember that being minimally qualified does
not guarantee your admission to the colleges of your choice.)
Where can I find out of state scholarship tuition information?
The best source for tuition information related to any particular college is the
college website or catalogue. The cost of attending a college changes year-by-year
and the college will be able to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information.
I have changed my interests. How do I change them on the survey
I completed at school?
One of the advantages of My College Options is having a personal online account
that allows you access to your profile, 24/7. You can go in anytime and update your
profile, changing any information you entered on your paper or online survey.
How can I register for the PSAT and other standardized college
entrance exams?
Since the PSAT is given through high schools, registration for this exam must be
handled by your school. Ask your counselor for information about the PSAT, PLAN,
and the SAT and ACT exams. You can also find details about these exams in the MCO
Article Archives and in the section on "How College Admission Works".
How can I contact the "College Matches" that I get with the My
College Options Newsletter?
From the newsletter that was sent to you, click the "View more results" link under
the "These Schools Match You" section or the "These Schools Have Asked to Be in
Contact With You" box. From there you will be taken to a page that looks similar
to the newsletter. The links are active from this page so you can click on the schools
that interest you. A preview of the college profile will come up and you can take
any further action you wish to take.