Start preparing for college now! It is never too early to set your goals and go after them. Here are a few things you can do to prepare before you step foot onto a college campus!

• Take the required classes: Universities have entrance requirements for science, math, english, social studies and foreign language. Find out the requirements for the college you are interested in.
• Push yourself academically: Don’t just take the “easy A” classes. When you apply to a college they get a copy of your transcript and like to see students taking courses that are more challenging.
• Get involved in your community: Many times college applications will also ask you what clubs in and out of school you were involved in, so start those now. There are many groups/clubs you can join at your middle or high school.

In addition to your grades, many schools look at your standardized test scores. There are three standardized tests that you will have to take in high school so start looking into these now.



AIMS: This Arizona state standardized test is one that you will have to pass before you can graduate in the state of Arizona. You must meet the standard in all four categories of the test: math, reading, writing and science.


ACT: This standardized test is designed to assess high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. It often is used for college admission decisions, and virtually all U.S. colleges and universities accept ACT results. The ACT consists of four multiple-choice tests in English, mathematics, reading and science, as well as an optional writing test.


SAT: The SAT is one of two standardized tests used by colleges as part of their admissions requirements. The SAT I is a three-hour exam that measures verbal and math reasoning skills used for admission. Scores on each section range from 200-800 points. The SAT II consists of more than 20 subject areas, or achievement tests designed to measure subject-area knowledge.