> Then comes the part where they tell you what you have to pay. $99 down payment, plus $99/month for twelve months. That's pretty much $1300 just to get a "profile" of me sent to colleges. Well, according to them, they send it to colleges that have the majors *I* want and that those colleges hold them in high regards, so when they see that this company sent me, I'm pretty much in if I want to be.

I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but this program does not have me convinced at all. To be safe, I'd check the name of the company with the Better Business Bureau. If you want your profile sent to colleges, then you can do that yourself. When you fill out the Free Application For Student Assistance (FAFSA) in your senior year, the information will automatically be sent to six schools, free of charge. When you apply to a school, they receive your information, too.

> It's just so *confusing* to me. There's so much pressure on every side- I have to be thinking of all this stuff while still maintaining good grades and still maintaining a *LIFE.* Oh, yeah, I forgot about that! According to school officials, school should BE your life. Then they turn around and tell you in a whiny voice to "enjoy your younger years, because you'll wish you could go back later."

Enjoy life for now. Have fun, and in the process, you'll discover what you truly enjoy in life. That will most likely be the best career for you.

Back to the money issue, try not to worry too much about it right now. There are scholarships that freshmen can apply for, so keep your eyes open for those. If you have financial need, the money IS out there. I'm on a full-ride scholarship, and my sister has about three-fourths of the money pulled together for NYU, which comes out to be a heck of a lot of money.

Yes, grades are important and yes, finding and getting into a good college is important, but don't let that wear you down. Enjoy life and take it one day at a time.

Ell"Been there"myruh