The college admissions process can

College Entrance Exams

The following are exams that test your abilities in a variety of subjects. They are used to award scholarships, credit, and acceptance letters.

Navigating the College Admissions Process.

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be daunting and confusing. The following is intended to make that process a bit more manageable by providing a foundation of knowledge from which to draw.

Types of Colleges
Public Universities: can be large (40,000 people) or small (5,000 people), cheaper tuition for in-state residents (e.g. $10,000 in-state vs. $35,000 out-of state), offer 4 year degrees B.S./B.A., generally few offer scholarships Community College: tend to be small (6,000 people), cheaper tuition ($2,000 in-state vs. $5,000 out-of state), offer 2 year degrees, generally few offer scholarships PrivateColleges: generally small (6,000 people), expensive tuition ($32,000 all students), generally many scholarships available, four year degrees B.S./B.A.

PSAT: Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test- Taken early in high school as standardized test practice, may lead to scholarships http://www.collegeboard.com/
student/testing/psat/about.html?print=true

SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test- Aptitude test that measures the students readiness for college, three sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing scored from 200-800 each for a possible total of 2400.
http://sat.collegeboard.org/home?affiliateId=nav&ba nnerId=h-satns

SAT Subject Test: Measures knowledge in the five subjects: English, History, Mathematics, Science and Languages, usually required for very selective schools.
http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-subject

Alternatives
Technical School: Learn a specific trade in about two years. (e.g. chef, mechanic, information technology (IT), and office management).Many institutions offer instruction online. Peace Corp: If you attend graduate school you can volunteer in the Peace Corp to get credit and experience in your field of study. The Peace Corp also offers scholarships, financial aid, stipends, and internships for returning volunteers. http://www.peacecorps.gov/

ACT: American College Test- Aptitude test with four subjects: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science, with an optional writing section. Scored from 1-36.
http://www.actstudent.org/

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language- A standardized test measuring ones capability to speak and understand English at a college level, usually for students applying from outside the U.S. http://www.ets.org/toefl AP: Advanced Placement- Exams taken by high school students to test proficiency in college-level material, passing yields college credit and fulfills prerequisites. (see college credit in high school)
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/ab out.html

The Boys and Girls Club of America

Military: The armed forces has multiple programs to help fund your education depending on how long you enlist. You can also prepare for a career in the military if you choose to attend one of their accredited institutions. http://www.todaysmilitary.com/

GED: General Education Development- A test over the general knowledge obtained in high school yielding a certificate equivalent to a traditional high school diploma.
http://www.gedtestingservice.com/ged-testing-service

Application Timeline
Your application is the place to highlight your strongsuits. Of particular interest are scholastic acheivements, athletics, volunteer service, leadership roles, and community involvement.

College Credit in High School

College credits are expensive. If you can knock off some credits in highschool you will save money, complete prerequisites, and prepare for the rigor of college classes.

Financial Aid
It is important to look into how you are going to pay for college and the opportunities that are out there for the taking.

Grades (Only high school grades count but start good habits early!): Of course, colleges look at grades. If you put the work in during high school it will show in your grades and colleges want students who will put effort into what they do in the future in order to be successful and reflect well upon the school. Extra Curricular Activities (Only high school endeavors count but find your interests early!): Colleges do not just want the 4.0 student. They want a well-rounded student who they know will be able to do great things. Listing clubs, sports, jobs, volunteering, and anything else you do in your free time will show your personal side. Letter of Recommendation (Start asking late Jr. and early Sr. year.): Some colleges do not have an interview process and this is the only way for them to see you through someone elses eyes. The trick to this is to get a teacher you really admire and have a relationship with which will result in a great letter. Also going to a coach that has seen leadership and cooperation skills is another great person to go to. Get a handful of letters from different people so you can pick the best ones you want to send in. However, you may not be allowed to see the letters beforehand. Early Admissions (most deadlines by end of Oct. Sr. year): It is possible to fill out an application early and send it into a college and receive notice of your acceptance early if you meet the deadline. This helps show how much you truly want to go to the school and colleges love eager students.

College in the High School (CHS): some high school classes can double as college credit if you pay through a community college, cost based on number of credits (e.g.$250 per class per semester) http://sbctc.edu/college/_e-collegeinhighschool.aspx Running Start: you can attend community college while still in high school and get college and high school credit simultaneously, some fees apply but no tuition http://www.k12.wa.us/SecondaryEducation/Caree rCollegeReadiness/RunningStart.aspx International Baccalaureate (IB): Generally a 2 year program in high school in which students must complete core courses. Tests are given after completion of the program. Those passing receive college credit in their courses and an IB diploma. (Not all schools award credit for IB) http://www.ibo.org/ Advanced Placement (AP): an advanced version of the classes you already take in high school. Many classes to choose from. If you pass the test at the end of the year, you receive college credit. You do not need to take the class to take the test for credit. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/ about.html

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student AidThis looks into programs that can give you money for college. It also determines if you are eligible for other grants and scholarships. You have to apply every year you go to college http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ Scholarships: Go to your school counselor to see what scholarships are open and available to you to try and get free money for college. Scholarships are everywhere and you just need to go out and apply for them. Even your community center would have a list of business scholarships that you are eligible for. The college itself is not the only place to get scholarship money College Work Study: A program in schools which allows students to work part-time to pay for their college education. Part Time Jobs: Working in college is difficult but sometimes needed to cover your expenses. If you get a job around campus be smart with hours and work around your school schedule first.

Helpful Resources
Counselor: The high school counselor is just waiting for students to come and ask for help. Making a year plan of what is needed of you with classes and extra activities is the perfect start to getting into college. Tutoring: If a subject is not going well do not wait until it is too late, ask for help so you do not fall behind. It does not look good on your transcript to have a failing grade or retake a class. Adults in Your Prospective Profession: Talking to a professional in your field of interest can give you insight into the daily routine, fiscal situation, and necessary preparation in pursuing this career path.