Preparing for College - Academic Preparation and Planning
One of the objectives is to encourage students and
their parents to prepare now for going to college.
Everyone needs to understand that it is within their
reach, if they prepare now academically and financially
and have the support and encouragement of their school,
families, and others.
A pivotal determination of whether each student will have a "choice of futures" is their academic preparation.
For this reason, the following is illustrative of what each person presenting information to students and
parents can use to reinforce the importance of proper planning and academic preparation.
Academic Preparation
The courses you take in school, both middle school and high school, the grades you make, your class rank,
the results of your standardized tests, and the life experiences you have all play a part in determining
whether or not a college will admit you. That's why it's important to plan, pay attention, and prepare
yourself now for your future tomorrow. The choices you make today will determine what choices you have tomorrow.
Courses and Grades
For starters, most colleges require at least three, and preferably four, years of studies in the following core courses:
- English
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
In addition, most colleges require at least two years of a foreign language.
How well you do (the grades you make) is also important. However, the difficulty of coursework you take also can be
a significant factor. In general, most college admission counselors prefer to see a student who has taken tougher
courses and got average grades to a student who opted for "an easy A." The more challenging the coursework you take,
the better.
Class Rank
Another factor a college admission counselor will probably look at is where you rank compared to others in your
graduating class. The purpose of class rankings are to try and put the grades you've made in perspective so the
counselor will know how you've performed in relation to your peers.
Class rankings are determined by your grade point average. And they have their pluses and minuses. Some people
view them as important. Others think they are too narrowly focused and can easily misrepresent a student's work
and abilities. Whatever school of thought may exist, class rankings are a criteria on which you will likely be judged.
Standardized Tests
In addition to your course work, grades, and class rank, your scores on standardized tests (such as the SAT and
ACT) will be reviewed as one of several criteria for admission.
Life Experiences and Skills
Should you decide not to go to college right away after high school and rather work, such action can be useful
once you decide to go to college. If you are in the workforce for a while and then consider going to college,
your work and life experiences can go a long way toward gaining you college admission. Such experiences, often
times, will be judged as more important than your high school transcript from many years ago or your SAT scores.
Check with the college you're interested in attending about the application process for "nontraditional" students
to see if their admission requirements differ.
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Career Planning
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Standardized Tests
