College Prep

Students who choose to stay at Tuslaw High School for all four years of education are considered College Prep. When considering a college prep schedule, students must consider that many selective colleges look for students who have taken the fullest advantage of the academic program their high schools have to offer. The following are what colleges are considering when they evaluate potential students for admission.

• Academic Record: Admissions representatives look at the breadth (how many), diversity (which ones), and difficulty (how challenging) of the courses on your transcript.

• Grades: Consistent performance that shows you have worked to your potential. If your are not good initially, colleges look to see if significant improvement has been made. Some colleges have minimum grade point averages they are willing to accept.

• Class Rank: Colleges consider the academic standing of a student in relation to other members of his/her class. Are you the top 25% of your class? The top 50%?

• Standardized Test Scores: Colleges look at test scores in terms of ranges. Highly selective colleges look for ACT scores of at least 27 and SAT I scores above 1220. If your scores aren't high but you did well academically in high school, don't be discouraged. There is no set formula for admission. Even at the most competitive schools, some students' test scores are lower than many would think.

• Out of Class Activities: Colleges look for depth of involvement (variety and how long you participated), initiative (leadership), and creativity demonstrated in activities, service, or work.