Thinking Ahead To College

Things to Consider About Yourself:

• What is your GPA? What are your ACT or SAT scores?

• What are your strong subject areas? Which colleges have core requirements?

• What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?

• What are your ultimate goals and expectations? How are you going to get there?

Specifics to Consider about a College or University Setting:

• Type of college (public, private two or four year school)

• Geographical location

• Size

• Price range

• Entrance requirements

• Major and career information

• Academic level

• Social and athletic organizations

Next Steps:

• Research your list of schools (talk with your counselor, visit the college websites, use the counseling resource center, talk with other students).

• Develop a plan of action for campus visits/interviews.

• Check out “college visits @ link back to college resources

• Review/update your college resume.

Important Things to Remember:

• Admission decisions look at the whole person and are based on a variety of factors including academic transcript record, upward trend, course selection, test scores, auditions/portfolios, recommendations, and extracurricular activities. In addition, schools look at things that are not directly in your control such as high school standing, number of applicants, and quotas. It is important to understand the specific things the colleges you are interested in will be looking at. Your guidance counselor is an important resource in this process.

• The relationships you form with teachers are important to your success as a student and to your growth as a learner. As you approach the college application process, keep in mind that you will need to identify individuals that know you well and can write a recommendation for you.

• Remember that colleges want to see that you are serious about educational pursuits. Plan an academic course early and enroll in classes that challenge you right through your senior year.