I am interested in COLLEGE.....

HELP !

• My parents and I have been approached about working with a private educational consultant to plan and prepare for college. The fee seems reasonable but my high school counselor tells my parents we should not pay anyone for assistance with college planning. What is your opinion?
• I am the oldest child in the family, so this college thing is totally new. I am having trouble sorting out what to do first about getting into college. My GPA is 3.7. I am a junior. I have not taken any tests or started looking at schools. I am not sure what to major in. Help!
• My son is entering senior year. The problem is that my wife and I have to nag him about making some school choices, setting up college tours, filling out applications, etc. We are very frustrated by his unwillingness to focus on the steps that will lead him to college.
• My son had his heart set on Princeton University. Unfortunately his SAT=1190. He was invited for an interview, but he has been rejected from Princeton. What can he do to appeal this decision ?
• I am a sophomore. My GPA=2.72. I'm afraid I've put myself out of the college race. Do I have any hope of going to college? What can I do to improve my performance ?

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The Campus

• Do you consider it worthwhile for a junior in high school to visit colleges during junior year?
• Please give me some ideas on how to organize college visits.
• What is Cooperative Education (Co-op) ?
• What is the difference between a college and a university ?
• Is a campus visit necessary ?
• Which is better, a small school or a large one ?

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Class Rank

• What is the exact weight colleges give to the GPA, grades, class rank, extra-curricular activities, community services and teacher recommendations ?
• Why do some private schools rank their students and others do not ?
• I have a BIG problem. I attend a small school, there are only 40 students in my class. Even though I get grades of B+ and A in AP/Honors classes and my GPA is 3.9, other students in my grade, who are getting A's in regular level classes, end up with higher GPAs than mine. Because class rank is calculated by unweighted GPA, my rank is lower than theirs. Should I drop the AP and Honors classes and take the regular ones? How else can I convince the colleges that I work hard ?
• I am a senior in a private prep school. My class ranking is 87, 3 short of being in the top half. I think this will make it difficult for me to attend the college of my choice ?
• How important are my numbers, e.g.: Transcript, Class Rank, SAT I & II or ACT ?
• My school does not have a class rank, but certain scholarships and applications ask for my class rank. How do I respond ?
• I am a senior with a GPA=3.4, SAT=1100, competing in a large school with 800 graduates. How much will my class rank affect me and what are my chances of getting into a UC school such as UCLA ?
• I am a sophomore in a local high school in a small town. I have a very high class rank and GPA, but there are only 150 students in my class. What should I do to make my application more appealing to rigorous colleges?

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My GPA is ... What are my chances ... ?

• I have received top awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair, sponsored by Intel. However, my SAT I scores are not in the superior category, Verbal/Math=640/660. Since I am homeschooled and AP classes are not available, I have taken 17 credits at a local college, where my GPA=3.81. I have also interned at a government laboratory. What are my chances of getting into an engineering program at Johns Hopkins, Lehigh or Princeton ?
• I am a sophomore. My GPA=2.72. I'm afraid I've put myself out of the college race. Do I have any hope of going to college? What can I do to improve my performance ?
• I am a junior at a private school. I take college prep courses, Honors English, AP US History, Honors Chemistry. I have over 100 hours of community service. I am a member of the film club, captain of the varsity soccer team. I am in M.U.N. and NHS. My SAT=1000, my ACT=25, my GPA=3.7. What are my chances of getting into Notre Dame or Georgetown ?
• I am a junior. My GPA=3.83, my PSAT=73/78/80. I got an A in AP Biology and an A in AP Chemistry. I neglected to take Chemistry SAT II. Does my living in Berkeley, CA, improve my chances of getting into UC Berkeley ?
• I attend a private Catholic school in Seattle, WA, my GPA=3.7, my SAT=1170. I have taken 4 years of Honors English, 2 years of Honors Calculus, 3 years Japanese, 3 years of Science, including AP Chemistry. I am on the Varsity Team in Drama and have volunteered at a hospital. Can I get into UC Berkeley, Emory, or Claremont McKenna ? Do colleges look favorably upon applicants from private college prep schools ?
• What is the exact weight colleges give to the GPA, grades, class rank, extra-curricular activities, community services and teacher recommendations ?
• My GPA=2.83, I take 2 AP classes, a college class, 2 honors classes and am very athletic. In the past I have been lazy and my ACT=26, my SAT Verbal=630, SAT Math=490. I live in California. What are my chances of being accepted in an out-of-state college ?
• If I choose not to take Chemistry or Algebra II in high school, will my chances of being accepted to a decent college be hurt ?
• My school is small and rather unimpressive. AP courses classes are not offered. I have taken the toughest schedule, including honors level courses, but I believe that my transcript does not match up with records of students from larger and wealthier schools. My SAT=1440, my GPA=3.98. Will my small school background hold me back ?
• I am a senior and have a high SAT score (1310) but a low GPA (2.7). What can I do to improve my chances of getting into a good college ?
• I am a junior in high school with a GPA=3.9 and am interested in a science-based school (like CALTECH, Stanford, etc.) What can I do to improve my chances of being accepted ?
• I will be starting my senior year this fall. My GPA is 3.2, my SAT score is 1350, my ACT is 29. Is it too late to get into a good college? Is there anything I can do to improve my chances ?
• I am going to be a senior this coming year. I am not very active, my GPA is 3.25 and I am terrible at testing. What do you think my chances are at getting into a good school ?
• One semester average in Advanced Geometry in my freshman year was a B. This year I got a B in Advanced Algebra II. Right now my GPA is 3.87. Do you think I have a chance of getting into one of the top 10 schools ?

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The Numbers Game

• My composite ACT=27 (Reading=34). My SAT=1240 (Verbal=630, Math=610). Some of the schools I am applying to require one or the other. Should I submit the ACT score? The SAT score? Or both?
• I am interested in applying to the University of California. Is there a maximum number of honor courses a student may use to apply to a weighted grade index?
• I have a BIG problem. I attend a small school, there are only 40 students in my class. Even though I get grades of B+ and A in AP/Honors classes and my GPA is 3.9, other students in my grade, who are getting A's in regular level classes, end up with higher GPAs than mine. Because class rank is calculated by unweighted GPA, my rank is lower than theirs. Should I drop the AP and Honors classes and take the regular ones? How else can I convince the colleges that I work hard ?
• I am an average student. I have a B average. I have taken merit courses and one AP course throughout high school. My SAT=1000. Do I have a chance of becoming a Dentist ?
• I attend a private Catholic school in Seattle, WA, my GPA=3.7, my SAT=1170. I have taken 4 years of Honors English, 2 years of Honors Calculus, 3 years Japanese, 3 years of Science, including AP Chemistry. I am on the Varsity Team in Drama and have volunteered at a hospital. Can I get into UC Berkeley, Emory, or Claremont McKenna ? Do colleges look favorably upon applicants from private college prep schools ?
• I take all Honors classes, have A's and B's, my SAT=1400. I have little extra-curricular activity. What are my chances of getting into NYU or Brown ?
• How can I find out what competitive colleges think of my school ? 90% of the students in my high school continue to college.
• I am interested in attending a boarding school. If I repeat my junior year in the boarding school, will it hurt my chances of getting into a competitive college ?
• What is the exact weight colleges give to the GPA, grades, class rank, extra-curricular activities, community services and teacher recommendations ?
• What ACT score is accepted by a college and what is required for a scholarship ?
• I have good SAT & ACT scores (SAT=1220, ACT=32), but a low GPA (3.4/5.0). I am taking four AP classes in my senior year. What are my chances of getting into a good school ?
• I moved to a different high school in mid-year. Compared to my old school, my credentials are now much lower and less impressive. What should I do ?
• Our school district does not provide 'weighted grades' for AP classes. We have heard that this can be a disadvantage when our son applies to college.
• I had a bad year as a freshman in high school, but got straight A's throughout 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Would a college consider my freshman year grades or consider me an A student ?
• Is the 11th grade of high school really the one the colleges look at the most ? If not, which one is ?
• I am a junior and am debating whether I should graduate early. I don't like high school and would rather jump into college, but I don't know if I'm ready. Should I take more classes in high school or should I graduate and take classes at a community college ?
• I am a sophomore. What classes should I take now that will help me get into the college of my choice ?
• I am a high school junior. Do I need to take Chemistry next year in order to go to a four year public college ?
• Do 2-year colleges require the SAT ?
• My SAT I scores are brilliant, but my SAT II score in Writing is 470. I have brilliant recommendations and brilliant everything ... Will I be rejected from the competitive colleges ?
• Is it wise to submit my ACT/SAT score to the colleges before taking a shot at repeating the tests ?
• What do colleges consider for admission ?
• I heard that colleges will preferentially consider an applicant who went to private school over an applicant from public school. Is that true ?
• My ACT scores were sent to 4 schools, but my SAT scores were sent to 4 different schools. Can I send both scores to all the schools ?
• My combined SAT I score is 1170, but my combined SAT II score is 1000. Will my low SAT II scores affect my chances of getting into my college of choice ?
• I got a B in an AP class, but I got a 5 on the test. Which will the colleges consider more important ?
• I heard that colleges prefer an applicant who gets B's and C's in honor courses over one who achieves A's in regular classes.

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The Ivies

• Which universities are considered Ivy League schools ?
• My GPA is 2.9. My PSAT Math score is 540 and PSAT Verbal score is 520. I attend a private prep school. What are my chances of getting into an Ivy League School ?
• What is the lowest score required for an acceptance to a top university such as Harvard University ?
• I am a rising senior at an ultra-competitive magnet school. My GPA is 3.5, my PSAT=237, my SAT=1570. I have extensive extra-curricular activities and will have taken 6 AP classes. I want to apply to the Ivies, but my guidance counselor doesn't agree. Any suggestions ?
• How much would being a legacy at an ivy league school help my chances of being admitted ?
• I am a senior at a magnet school. My SAT I=1550, Math IIC=790, Chemistry=790, Writing=790. AP Chemistry=5, AP Calculus=5. GPA=4.18. I am first in my class. I have numerous extracurricular activities, National awards, science awards, and 150 hours of community service. I am involved in 6 music related activities. I am interested in applying to Harvard. Do you think I can get in ?
• I have a SAT score of 1460 and a 3.98/4 GPA. I take the hardest courses at school, run Varsity Cross Country, am president of the National Honor Society, a member of several clubs, have 50+ community service hours and have earned many academic awards. I come from a low income family and wish to go to an Ivy League school. The Ivies have sent me information - does that mean anything? What can I do to improve my chances of getting into a selective school and making myself more desirable to the scholarship committees ?

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The Applications & The Essays

• I get the impression that the predominant topic of the admission essays is "the turning point". Personally, I cannot think of any particular moment of revelation or maturation which has helped define who I am; I feel that my maturation occurred gradually. Should I write a brilliant essay about something that never happened ?
• Whenever I am asked to write an essay about the "turning point" of my life, I am very wary of whether to answer with the utmost sincerity. My personal "turning point" occurred with LSD at the age of fourteen. It was an amazing moment of clarity for me, when I transformed my perception into something extremely positive. Up to that experience I had been suicidal. It was also the moment I learned that I wanted to dedicate myself to film. How do you think colleges will appreciate my honesty? My GPA=4.2, I am in the top 10%, my SAT=1270.
• I would like apply to MIT. How important is a background in music? I intend to continue in the high school band, but I would like to stop paying for private music lessons and put the money towards something else.
• What should I include on a college resume ?
• Is it better to send the applications in early or late? Why ?
• I am having problems writing a college application essay. Do you have any tips ?
• How do I get a copy of my ACT scores to the colleges ?
• I have been nominated for the State Merit Award. How do I notify the schools of this award ?
• How do I go about getting my teacher recommendations ?
• I plan on submitting three instead of two letters of recommendation. Could this help my application ?
• Do I need a different teacher to write a recommendation letter for each college that I apply to, or can I use the same letter for each application ?
• I am a senior working as a research assistant in a lab at Case Western University. The Professor has offered to write me a letter of recommendation. However, I don't think Case Western will be my first choice. What should I do ?
• I am a junior and will be moving to a new school in my senior year. How do I get all my transcripts together when I submit my college applications ?
• What is the deadline for applying to college ?
• What does the college application deadline refer to? Is it the last date when one can send the application forms or is it it the last date the college accepts the forms ?
• There is only one teacher recommendation form in the college applications package. Am I limited to providing only one recommendation, or can I have multiple recommendations, using copies of the same form ?
• How long should an essay on the applications be ?
• The Common Application essay calls for an essay that is 25-500 words long. My essay is 535 words long. Should I remove the extra 35 words ?
• Where can I find essays ?
• Must I type my college application ?
• On certain college application forms some of the questions/essays are marked optional. Should they be answered ?
• Should the application essay be double spaced ?
• How can I find the topics or questions for the application essays ?
• When completing the activity list on the applications form, how specific should I be ?
• My mother is one race, my father is another. On many application forms I cannot find a multiracial/biracial option in the race category. Would it be to my advantage to identify myself as a member of the minority race ?
• Does a high school suspension affect my chances of getting into a good school ?
• I am a junior. I have been suspended for the entire fourth quarter of the year for a misdemeanor charge (possession of alcohol and marijuana). At the time of my suspension I ranked first in my class. My GPA=4.26, the highest possible. My ACT=33, the highest in my school. I have excelled in many extra-curricular activities. Following the suspension, my GPA and class rank will definitely drop. How will this affect my chances of getting into a competitive college? What are my chances of getting a scholarship ?
• Is suspension in high school a question on the common application, particularly among the top colleges ?

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Finances & Scholarships

• I am a junior. I have received a letter of provisional acceptance from a college. Are colleges beginning to recruit earlier? Financial aid was not mentioned in the letter.
• What are "scholarship scams" and how can I avoid them ?
• We are a middle class income family with little saved for college. Do private colleges have better financial aid packages than state schools ?
• What ACT score is accepted by a college and what is required for a scholarship ?
• I have a SAT score of 1460 and a 3.98/4 GPA. I take the hardest courses at school, run Varsity Cross Country, am president of the National Honor Society, a member of several clubs, have 50+ community service hours and have earned many academic awards. I come from a low income family and wish to go to an Ivy League school. The Ivies have sent me information - does that mean anything? What can I do to improve my chances of getting into a selective school and making myself more desirable to the scholarship committees ?
• What state universities have honors programs and do they offer merit scholarships ?
• I am looking for information about scholarships, grants and tuition aid
• What are my chances of getting a scholarship ?
• I am interested in a college in another state but cannot afford the tuition required from out-of-state students. What do you suggest I do ?
• What is the average GPA needed for a full scholarship at college ?
• Where can I get information on scholarships ?
• I was interested in the ROTC program to help pay my tuition, since my brother is going into college at the same time I am. What is your advice ?
• Is it possible to qualify for a grant or scholarship if my parent's income is too high ?
• How do I get information about schools that may offer me a women's athletic scholarship ?
• My GPA is 3.95. My ACT score is 32. I am highly involved in fine arts. How good are my chances of getting a merit scholarship ?
• I am interested in joining Americorps. Several of the colleges I am interested in have renewable scholarships. If I choose to join for a year after my freshman year of college, will it ruin my chances of having a scholarship when I return ?
• I have been accepted early decision. Will that hurt my chances of getting a non-need based scholarship ?
• I have been accepted to college. I have not received any information regarding scholarships. Who should I contact or will someone contact me ?
• What state universities have honors programs and do they offer merit scholarships ?
• I am a junior. I have been suspended for the entire fourth quarter of the year for a misdemeanor charge (possession of alcohol and marijuana). At the time of my suspension I ranked first in my class. My GPA=4.26, the highest possible. My ACT=33, the highest in my school. I have excelled in many extra-curricular activities. Following the suspension, my GPA and class rank will definitely drop. How will this affect my chances of getting into a competitive college? What are my chances of getting a scholarship ?
• Which are the seven colleges that have mandatory work programs ?

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Choosing a School

• Help! I was accepted to my second choice school, and must reply before receiving notice from my first choice school. Is it against the law to accept the second choice now and withdraw later? What should I do ?
• I find that liberal art colleges are more liberal in giving aid to international students. However, many of the programs offered by such colleges, are not ranked in the Gourman report. Is it because they are not universities ?
• I'm looking for a rank listing of schools according to specific majors.
• College rankings confuse me, especially the ranking by majors. I am interested in Computer Sciences and have looked at Rugg's Recommendations and at the National Academy of Sciences rankings, and the two are wildly inconsistent. Can you help ?
• Where can I find information about the ranking of US Colleges & Universities ?
• To become a broadcast journalist, do you need a journalism major or is a communication major sufficient?
• I am a high school student who would like to enter the pharmaceutical field. What do I need to do to start the enrollment in this field?
• I am worried that my college applications will make me appear brilliant in one area, but rather average in others. I scored 5 on both AP European History and AP American History, am submitting 2 letters of recommendation from my history teachers, and got a 770 on the US History SAT II. I enjoy learning History, but prefer to major in something more practical like engineering. Do you think I would have a better chance of acceptance if I indicate that I plan to major in history?
• What classes should I take in high school to help me get into vet school?
• I am entering my junior year in high school. I cannot make up my mind between music, photography, and architecture. What kind of college should I be looking for with these interests? Should I be looking into a double major?
• What are the admissions criteria for out-of-state students applying to UCLA? Is a declared major considered for areas other than audition majors? My GPA=4.1, SAT=1400.
• I am entering my senior year at high school and do not have any idea about what my major in college should be. Do you have any pointers on how to chose a college major ?
• I am in a specialty high school, studying performing arts, and am interested in continuing this pursuit in college. What are the major differences in my college planning calendar compared to students opting for more traditional coursework? What issues should I be concerned about? How important are my SATs ?
• After applying to UC Berkeley as my #1 choice, I recently discovered a college resource book that described the school as cutthroat competitive and the people as emotionally distant and cold. What do you think ?
• Where would I find the mailing addresses, e-mail addresses or Internet home pages of the schools I am interested in ?
• How does one get the Personalized College Selection Web page EDUFAX offers ?
• I would like to work on Wall Street. What majors should I choose ?
• I would like to major in bioengineering/biomedical engineering. Which are the top schools in the USA for this major ?
• I am a Japanese student and am interested in studying the theory of cinema and film production.
• Is computer science a competitive major in college? What are the top ranking schools in this field?
• Is a computer science degree from Carnegie Mellon University as well respected as a CS degree from Harvard or Princeton?
• What are the ten top schools with a major in Communication?
• Could you suggest small Liberal Arts Colleges with good learning support programs ?
• I am interested in a small to medium size school in a small urban or rural area with recognized majors in Speech and Debate.
• I plan to become a dentist. What classes should I take during high school? In college ?
• I am interested in working with deaf children. Do I need to go to a special school? Do I need to study Special Education ?
• What schools have the best undergraduate Earth Science programs? I am especially interested in Geology and Geophysics.
• I plan on becoming a veterinary technician. What classes should I be taking in college? Would I be better off being a Zoology major ?
• My ACT=18; I took the ACT at the beginning of my junior year. I wish to become a medical scientist. What classes should I take in high school ?
• Could you suggest schools that are conservative and "right-of-center"?
• Please provide a list of colleges that are the opposite of conservative.
• I am a junior. I have received a letter of provisional acceptance from a college. Are colleges beginning to recruit earlier? Financial aid was not mentioned in the letter.
• Which are the seven colleges that have mandatory work programs ?

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Why College?

• Do you think college is for everyone ?
• What is the value of a higher education ?
• I didn't get into college. Do I have to be a bricklayer all my life ?
• I am seriously considering taking a year off after graduating from high school to work, travel and, generally, mature a little before starting college. Will this hurt my chances of getting into the school of my choice ?
• I have an avid interest in languages. I am interested in taking a year off before college in order to pursue one of the foreign languages in the original native country. I am considering a high school year abroad or an internship abroad. My parents feel I should go directly to college. How do you think these plans would affect my college applications ?

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Languages

• Is it better to have 4 years in one language or 2 years of two?
• Is it better to take 4 years of Spanish and 4 years of Latin, or 4 years of Spanish, 3 years of Latin and 2 years of Chinese?
• My son is entering high school. He has taken Spanish for 2 years in middle school and has done well. He is interested in becoming a veterinarian. I have conflicting opinions: one is that he should continue with Spanish for the next 4 years; the other is that he should take Latin for 2 years, in preparation for the science courses he will be taking in college. He can take only one language course in high school. What language would you recommend he choose ?
• Must I take a foreign language in college ?
• How many years of high school language do you need in order to get into a good college? Are they all different ?
• My son is a junior and is ranked first in his class. He is in advanced Math and Science programs, however, so far he has taken only one year of Spanish. In his senior year, should he take Spanish II or should he take Physics and Calculus and risk lowering his GPA ?

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Early Decision/Action

• My daughter is agonizing as to whether she should apply early decision or not. What are the advantages and disadvantages of early decision ?
• What happens if I don't go to a school to which I was accepted through the early decision or early action program ?
• What is the difference between early decision and early action ?

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Student Athlete

• I am a freshman in a private school, play intense club soccer and am a state cup champion. I made varsity soccer this year and am one of the top two players on the team. What are my chances of getting an athletic scholarship to Notre Dame or Georgetown ?
• I am interested in being a student athlete. However, I also want to attend an academically sound college, Tier 1 or 2. Two schools in Tier 4 are interested in me. Both have honors programs. Would do you advise ?
• I am a student-athlete and have been asked to sign an early National Letter of Intent with one of the schools of my choice. Does this confirm my acceptance to the school ?
• I am a student athlete. What kind of ACT score do I need to get into the college of my choice ?
• I am interested in receiving a scholarship in track. How do I notify the schools that I am interested in being recruited ?
• I am a high school junior and a student athlete. I need help in contacting schools about playing varsity sports.

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Wait List

• What is the wait list ? Why am I on it, and how do I get off ?
• I have been put on the wait list. How exactly does a wait list work? What are my chances of getting in? Can I do anything to better these chances ?
• I am wait listed at two schools and have only one safety acceptance. Is it too late to apply to more colleges (the date is March 31) ?
• I am a senior. I was wait listed at Stanford, my first choice. How can I be accepted off the wait list ?

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Getting into a Pre-Med Program

• I am a junior. My GPA=3.57, my SAT=1190. I am in several school clubs and play field hockey. What are my chances of getting into a pre-med program ?
• Up to this semester my cumulative undergraduate GPA was 3.7. Unfortunately, this semester I am not doing well and my GPA has dropped to 3.5 (2.5 in Organic Chemistry). Will this affect my chances for Medical School ?
• My sophomore's son grade in Pre-Calculus is 'D'. He claims he was advised that math beyond Algebra I, II, & Geometry is not needed for pre-med courses in college. He believes his ACT/SAT scores will place him in the top ten colleges. I think he is in for a big surprise. What do you think ?
• Which colleges offer pre-med programs that guarantee admission to medical school ?
• Is there a listing of colleges that offer a percentage of acceptances to medical schools ?
• My GPA is 3.96 and I am considering pre-med courses in college. I am not sure I will be able to get into Ivy League schools because I attend a high school that is not highly regarded. Any suggestions ?
• I am a sophomore taking honors/AP English, 3rd year Spanish, 2nd year Latin, and Chemistry and my grades are mostly 'A's. I want to do Spanish to the 5th year and Latin to the 4th. Is such a strong background in languages helpful in applying to pre-med school ?

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Getting into a Pre-Law Program

• I want to be a lawyer but I don't know which schools are the best law preparation schools. What to do ?
• I am a sophomore in high school and am seriously thinking of going for Pre-Law. What are the best classes I should take in high school ?
• How many years does it take to become a lawyer ?
• What should my major be in college if I want to study law ?

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Now that I got into College...

• I am entering as a college freshman and will be staying in an apartment-type dorm. What should I bring ?

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