[originaltext]W: So can you give me some advice on financing college?M: Grades

W: So can you give me some advice on financing college?
M: Grades matter. The better you are, the more likely it is you will receive scholarships or win admission to a low-cost school.
W: Especially in our state of Florida, with grade-based scholarships, we particularly stand to benefit.
M: Yeah. Spend a few extra hours studying, bring your grade point average up a point or two, and it could pay off in tens of thousands of dollars.
W: People all say that early birds will get more scholarship worms. But, how early is it? You know, I am now a high school junior. Do I need to apply now?
M: You need to start applying in the early autumn before November 30, and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon as possible each January, because some aid is handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. Which university do you want to apply?
W: Princeton, my dream school. I don’t want to go anywhere else.
M: You should prepare for heartbreak. Colleges know what other schools’ students are applying to. Some aid officers will lower an aid award if they know you don’t have any alternative.
W: Then how many schools should I apply to?
M: At least a couple of affordable ones.
W: But which schools are affordable?
M: Your area community college is always a good bet. And an in-state public college is usually comparatively affordable.
W: No private schools?
M: Some of the most expensive ones by sticker price also give out huge scholarships and can actually be cheaper, in the long run, than public schools for many students.
Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
1. What is suggested to students in Florida?
2. Why should students apply for scholarships as soon as possible?
3. What if a student applies for very few colleges?
4. What college is the most secure choice concerning affordability?