College application help?

College application help?

• So, I'm a senior in high school and beginning to apply to colleges and I really need something clarified for me. I took the ACT with a fee waiver, and my counselor said that that allows me to be able to apply to colleges and not have to pay the application fee. That I understand. What I'm not sure about is how do I tell the college I'm applying to that I don't have to pay the fee? At the end of all the applications it has a list of options for paying the fee, and one of them is 'request fee exemption'. I know I obviously have to choose that one, but how the college know that I'm eligible to exempt the fee? When they get my ACT scores will that tell them that I took it with a waiver? Or do I have to contact the institution myself and tell them I took the ACT with a fee waiver? I'm just really confused and worried. If it matters, I live in Texas and am using the ApplyTexas website for my applications.

• Answer:

  First, regarding the fee waiver, this is probably a question which the counselor should answer for you. Take one of the application forms in as an example, show the counselor what the form requires, and ask directly how the college will know that you are eligible for a fee waiver. The counselor has certainly dealt with this before and can give you an answer you can trust. As far as the e-mail is concerned, I would, indeed, include name, address, phone number, and the like at the bottom of the e-mail message. Including this information looks professional and gives the recipient additional means of communicating with you in the event that such communication becomes necessary. It also provides the recipient with a way of associating your e-mail with any files of paperwork the college has on you. He can print out the e-mail and add it to your file just as he would any other part of your application, so having an address at the bottom helps make sure the copy of the e-mail goes into the correct file.