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Before you budget for your college experience, you'll already face some of the associated costs. From standardized tests to high school transcripts, you'll find yourself paying for a wide range of documents and services you'll need just to apply to the schools of your choice.

How much can you expect to pay before you're even admitted to a school? This depends on a number of factors: how many schools you apply to; how many times you choose to take the required standardized tests; whether you choose to take Advanced Placement (AP) tests and many others.

Here are some fees you can expect as you begin the college application process:

• SATs / ACTs: Most colleges in the United States require that you submit scores for either the SAT or the ACT. The basic fee for taking the SAT is $41.50 and allows you to send your scores to four schools. Additional fees include late registration ($21.50), additional score reports ($9.50 each), rush reporting service ($26.50), changing your test date ($20.50) and many others.
  
  The basic registration fee for the ACT is $29 and includes four free score reports. The fee for the ACT plus writing test is $43. There are also additional fees for late registration and additional report.



• Advanced Placement (AP) Tests: Students can take AP Tests to earn college credits for advanced coursework completed in high school. Each exam costs $83. Check to make sure that your preferred schools accept AP credits before paying for the test.



• CLEP Tests: Students seeking to earn college credits for life experience may take College-Level Examination Program or CLEP tests. Each CLEP test costs $60. Your test center may also require a separate non-refundable administration fee, usually $15. Be sure that your school of choice will give credit for CLEP tests before you register.



• The TOEFL and TSE: International students, or students for whom English is a second language, may be required by some schools to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL. The Educational Testing Service charges $140 for the paper-based or computer-based test.

Some students take these tests multiple times in an effort to improve their scores. Be sure to figure multiple registration costs into your budget if you plan to take any test more than once.

College Application Fees
Once you narrow down your list of choices, be aware that most colleges will expect you to pay a non-refundable fee when you submit your application packet. Charges vary widely among different schools and universities, ranging from about $10 (for community colleges) to $75 or more (for some elite colleges).

High-School Transcripts
High schools may charge small fees for sending transcripts, ranging from $2-$5.

Test Preparation
Many students begin studying for their standardized tests months before the test date. Although there are many study guides available in print and on CD-ROMs, it's a good idea to remember that many test preparation materials are available for free. For students who like a more structured environment, there are also many test preparation classes available. However these classes do call for a substantial investment of time and money - a typical SAT study class has twelve sessions (two per week), with each session lasting three hours. Each class can cost anywhere from $650-$800.

So is it possible to minimize these costs? Some costs are unavoidable, but getting an early start on your admissions work can help. Students who demonstrate financial hardship can get SAT and ACT fee waivers. Similarly, many schools will waive admissions fees for students with financial need. Ask admissions offices about the options available to you.

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